Life support customers receive no support

RECENT power outages from storm damage ranged from sheer annoyance for some, to life threatening for others – particularly those relying on vital medical equipment. 

AusNet recognises that power outages may represent dire situations for some of their customers and claims to provide enhanced customer support and protection systems for their registered life support customers. 

This includes sending SMS alerts and updates before (where possible) and during a power or gas outage. 

Mr. Clarke’s parents are both elderly and frail and live just outside of Korumburra.

Mr. Clarke’s Mum suffers from Parkinson’s PSP, a condition that that results in a progressive lack of coordination, stiffness, slow movements, cognitive dysfunction, and walking difficulties that can result in falls.

She requires essential medical equipment to undergo normal activities of daily living, including a falls alarm bracelet, an electric armchair and an electric bed, among other small items. 

“Why do I lodge life support for mum and dad? Because mum has limited life with Parkinsons PSP and all medical reports have been given to AusNet, but in a storm we don't hear from Ausnet and the life support system fails the elderly and sick,” said Mr. Clarke.

Mr. Clarke told the Sentinel Times that of the six days his parents were without power, they did not receive a single text message, phone call or visit from AusNet in that time.

They initially activated their emergency plan in anticipation that the power would be restored on Friday February 16 as stated on the AusNet Outage Tracker, which was later revised to Wednesday, February 21, yet they still received no notification from AusNet.

Mr. Clarke believes AusNet were prioritising the number of houses getting power back on rather than prioritising their life support customers.  

He organised a generator for his parents which was enough to power some electrical items but not all, and wonders where the responsibility lies - for those who require power for essential medical equipment but who may not have someone around to help.

“Maybe they need to have some initiative for affordable generators, or maybe they need to start funding some, but they just put on their policy that they cannot guarantee support,” Mr. Clarke explained.  

He is dismayed that no action was taken, especially given that the extended power outage is not the first time, nor is it a one-off 
incident.

“Why is this the third time for greater than five consecutive days we have lost power in the last two and a half years, as in my fifty year history we have lost a day due to storms, but the third time for greater than five consecutive days in under three years is now a joke.”

The lack of responsibility from AusNet and the government, saw Mr. Clarke contact David Smales from AusNet, Members of Parliament, Russell Broadbent, Danny O'Brien, Jacinta Allan and Madeleine King in a bid to seek answers and a solution.

“Obviously the system has been run into the ground with privatisation, and profits go overseas and not back into infrastructure and maintenance, as the government get hit with bills to fix a privatised system,” Mr. Clarke said. 

“They’ve dropped the ball.”