Power outages across Perth as parts of city swelter in 45C heat

Thousands of residents across Perth were in for a long, hot night following several power outages on a day the city experienced scorching temperatures.

More than 4000 homes in the northern suburbs — including Balcatta, Osborne Park, Tuart Hill, Dianella, Stirling, Yokine and Nollamara — experienced an unplanned power outage on Monday night.

Power was first cut in Balcatta at about 6.30pm with the other suburbs soon following suit.

Residents in Osborne Park and Stirling were heavily impacted with 1064 and 1115 homes without power respectively.

However, Western Power were able to restore power to most homes leaving Balcatta, Stirling and Osborne Park still in the dark at 7pm.

A Western Power spokesperson said the power outage was “due to a feeder trip around Balcatta and Osborne Park but we have been able to restore the majority of these customers by backfeeding”.

“Around 610 customers are currently without power, with an estimated restoration time of 12am,” they said.

Meanwhile, more than 3000 homes in Belmont, Rivervale, Carlisle, Cloverdale and Kewdale also lost electricity.

Western Power crews arrived at the source of the outage at about 7pm to begin assessing the damage caused with power turned back on about 8pm.

Western Power urged people to be “patient if they are experiencing an outage during the challenging conditions ahead”.

While temperatures reached more than 45C in parts of Perth metropolitan on Monday, the mercury is expected to drop to 30C throughout the evening.

At 7pm, the temperature reached 37C.

The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts temperatures between 38C and 41C through to Friday.

A heatwave warning has been called for more than half of the State, with the metropolitan area told to expect severe conditions.

There is also a high fire warning for much of the lower half of the State.

During an unplanned outage and where fire weather conditions apply, Western Power crews cannot restore power until the risk of bushfire reduces and a risk assessment has been completed.

This could increase the frequency and duration of an outage.

Western Power has also cancelled work that requires a planned power outage due to the severe heatwave conditions.