Australia Weather News

Parts of South Australia may be without electricity until the end of the weekend as the power network is repaired and gradually brought back online, ElectraNet has said.

ElectraNet, which provides electricity infrastructure across Australia, is continuing to assess damage after yesterday's storm which lead to the entire state plunging into darkness.

ElectraNet's network services executive manager Simon Emms said weather conditions were hampering access to sites and ability to restore power.

He said the blackout could not have been avoided when the state lost about 700 megawatts of power generation.

"We hope to have, by the end of the weekend, one of the three damaged interconnector, the backbone to the north of the state, restored," Mr Emms said.

"We'll obviously build on that as soon as possible.

"I'm not aware of any system of the world that could handle losing that amount of power so quickly, without blackout."

He said restoring the network was a "very delicate affair".

"We had enough access to generation, just needed to bring that on in a stable way. Bring it on quickly or irresponsibly could result in another blackout in the system."

Larges areas are without power including Ceduna, Blyth, Block Rock and Port Neill.

SA Power Networks Paul Roberts said about 45,000 people were still without power across the state.

He told 891 ABC Adelaide power had been restored to Port Augusta, Stirling North, Quorn, Port Pirie township, Port Pirie West, but Port Pirie South was still without electricity.

ElectraNet said power was restored to the upper Eyre Peninsula with Whyalla brought back on line late Thursday afternoon.

The State Government has made emergency relief grants available to people affected by the extended power outage.

Grants of up to $700 per household will be available to people who were without power for more than 18 hours — or who continue to be without power.

Deputy Premier John Rau said after a Cabinet meeting "a period of emergency has been proclaimed under the Essentials Services Act".

"Under these provisions, the Attorney-General has directed the Australian Energy Market Operator to maintain control of the South Australian Energy Market," a statement read.

Port Pirie smelter damaged

Port Pirie's Nyrstar smelter has said the site will be out of action for up to two weeks due to the power outage in the region which will cost the company millions of dollars.

A back-up diesel generator at the site kept the furnace going for several hours when power was cut to the entire state yesterday.

In a statement, Nyrstar said repairs to its blast furnace, damaged when power was lost and the slag solidified, could result in the company losing "three to five million euros".

"It is expected that the blast furnace will be down for approximately 10 to 14 days for repairs," the statement said.