Blossom-Seeking Bats Dim Rural Power

Fruit bats have caused power outages in recent weeks to parts of Darwin’s rural area, Acacia Hills, Corroboree Park, along the Arnhem Highway, and stretching down to Adelaide River, Pine Creek, Katherine and Mataranka.

The fruit bats are in these areas because native plants are flowering, creating a food source for them. Most Territorians are aware of the problems caused every year to our power supply from these fruit bats. Parks and Wildlife have advised that the fruit bats will move on when their food runs out.

What causes the power outage?

When the fruit bats cluster around power line insulators they can form a bridge from the conductor to the steel cross arms. This short circuits the High Voltage system and is the cause of power outages.

If the power outage is short – lasting only a few seconds – it means our equipment has sensed the problem and automatically restored power.

But, if this does not happen, our call out crews have to patrol the power line and find and remove the fruit bats before power can be restored.

What is Power and Water doing to fix the problem?

Power and Water has a program in place to upgrade High Voltage insulators on overhead power lines, replacing them with longer post-top insulators. This provides greater clearance for birds and animals, and makes the system more resistant to lightning strikes.

We have also installed specially designed mesh mats, imported from America, where they are used to prevent power outages from raccoons and squirrels. These mesh mats have proven effective against smaller fruit bats.

We understand how frustrating it is to lose power but rest assured our call-out crews always respond immediately to power outages.

For more information call 1800 245 092.