Nearly 930 homes and businesses in and around Nundle, Bowling Alley Point, Dungowan, Hanging Rock, Niangala and Woolomin were affected when broken cross-arms and fallen powerlines in Bowling Alley Point caused an unplanned power outage.

Essential Energy manager community relations Northern, David Crough, said for the safety of the public and their property, the electricity network switched power off to 467 households and businesses at 5.25pm on Sunday afternoon.

“Crews responded immediately and by reconfiguring the electricity network they were able to restore power to all but 11 customers at 8.19pm Sunday evening,” Mr Crough said.

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“To restore power to the remaining 11 customers, an urgent power outage affecting 927 households and businesses was then required at 10.17pm Sunday night to allow repairs to be completed. 

“The time chosen for the urgent power outage was to reduce the inconvenience to as many households and businesses as possible and where customers mobile numbers were known a text message was sent to advise them of the outage.”

Mr Crough said they had hoped to restore power by around 1am Monday morning, but that as worked progressed, further repairs were required and fresh crews had to be brought in.

Power was restored to all households and business by 8.15am Monday morning.

“We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank customers for their patience while crews worked to restore power,” Mr Crough said.​ 

As temperatures dropped to -2  degrees the winter woollies came out.

“It’s very difficult trying to keep warm in minus 2 degrees without a heater,” local mother of three Patricia Cruzado said. 

“It does make you realise how dependent we are on power when it's not switched on.”