Electricity utility Energex has issued a potentially lifesaving warning to members of the public who trespass into electrical substations by climbing over high fences and ignoring warning signs.
Executive General Manager, Distribution with Energex, Paul Jordon said the high voltage equipment inside substations can kill intruders instantly.
“Unfortunately, all the warning signs haven’t stopped a few trespassers in recent times who have in some cases scaled electric fences and barbed wire to get inside,” Mr Jordan said.
“It is alarming that members of the public would enter such a dangerous zone when even the company’s highest trained technicians must take special precautions.”
He said that for a member of the public, entering an electricity substation was as dangerous as walking onto a minefield.
“There are pieces of equipment everywhere live with high voltage that will take their life instantly,” Mr Jordon said.
“What’s even more frightening is they don’t even have to contact some of the equipment because the voltage is so high that it can jump a distance across to a person walking by.”
He said there was only one message for those who considered entering a substation and that was “don’t”.
“If your child’s drone has crashed inside our substation, call us on 13 12 53,” he said.
“If you’re thinking of doing a bit of skylarking with your mates, there’s a good chance you’ll end up dead,” Mr Jordan said.
