Cessnock Residents Left in Cold During Overnight Power Outage

Hundreds of households in the Cessnock area are set to spend Thursday night without electricity as Ausgrid carries out a scheduled network upgrade — with overnight temperatures forecast to drop as low as 5°C.

Ausgrid has confirmed the planned outage — reference NECF123129 — will affect parts of Bellbird, Cessnock, Bellbird Heights and Wollombi, impacting 628 customers. The works are aimed at upgrading the electricity network to support new community and building projects nearby.

The blackout will run from 8:00pm on Thursday, 14 August, until 5:30am on Friday, 15 August. The timing means residents will be without heating through the coldest part of the night.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology, overnight temperatures in the region are expected to fall to between 5°C and 9°C, with partly cloudy conditions and a chance of showers along the coastal fringe. Light winds will become south to southeasterly at 15 to 20 km/h in the morning before easing later in the day.

The outage will affect multiple streets, including Abbotsford Street, Arcadia Avenue, Balmoral Avenue, Belmont Avenue, Bercini Place, Brown Street, Buttaba Avenue, Catherine Street, Cox Street, Cruickshank Street, Desmond Street, Edith Street, George Street, Hosking Place, Kalingo Street, Keelendi Road, Macquarie Avenue, Mathieson Street, O’Neill Street, Rathmines Avenue, Ruby Street, Swansea Avenue, Swansea Crescent, Victoria Street, Wangi Avenue, Waratah Street and Wollombi Road.

Some local residents have voiced concerns over the disruption, saying the blackout’s timing during cold winter weather will make the outage more difficult to manage. Ausgrid has advised residents to prepare by charging devices, switching off sensitive appliances and making alternative arrangements for essential electrical needs.

Further information on preparing for the outage is available on Ausgrid’s website.