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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/mar/12/darwin-power-cut-closes-schools-public-service
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Darwin at a standstill as power cut closes schools and offices | Darwin at a standstill as power cut closes schools and offices |
| (6 months later) | |
| Darwin was brought to a standstill by a power cut on Wednesday and was not expected to return to business as usual until the afternoon. | Darwin was brought to a standstill by a power cut on Wednesday and was not expected to return to business as usual until the afternoon. |
| The blackout, which stretched about 320km south-east to Katherine, was caused by a tripped circuit breaker. | The blackout, which stretched about 320km south-east to Katherine, was caused by a tripped circuit breaker. |
| The incident at the Hudson Creek substation at 1.19am local time activated a protection system at the Channel Island power station, shutting down its transmission capacity. | The incident at the Hudson Creek substation at 1.19am local time activated a protection system at the Channel Island power station, shutting down its transmission capacity. |
| The entire city of Darwin, with about 130,000 residents, was affected, along with Palmerston, Pine Creek and Katherine. | The entire city of Darwin, with about 130,000 residents, was affected, along with Palmerston, Pine Creek and Katherine. |
| Residents suffered through a sweltering night without fans or air-conditioning, while fire and burglar alarms began to wail as a warning that they were not receiving power. | Residents suffered through a sweltering night without fans or air-conditioning, while fire and burglar alarms began to wail as a warning that they were not receiving power. |
| Fridges and stoves stopped working, and most businesses and shops closed. Sirens could be heard on the Stuart Highway as emergency services rushed to help residents in trouble. | Fridges and stoves stopped working, and most businesses and shops closed. Sirens could be heard on the Stuart Highway as emergency services rushed to help residents in trouble. |
| At peak hour on Wednesday morning, traffic lights were out, schools were closed and public buses were not running. | At peak hour on Wednesday morning, traffic lights were out, schools were closed and public buses were not running. |
| The Northern Territory government has mobilised emergency management protocols, and told all non-essential public servants to stay home. | The Northern Territory government has mobilised emergency management protocols, and told all non-essential public servants to stay home. |
| Community health services were closed, but the Royal Darwin Hospital remained fully operational. | Community health services were closed, but the Royal Darwin Hospital remained fully operational. |
| Water and sewage services were being supported by generators where possible, the government advised. | |
| The Mantra Pandanas hotel in Darwin’s CBD evacuated guests at about 1.30am, with about 50 people sitting out the front on the street. | The Mantra Pandanas hotel in Darwin’s CBD evacuated guests at about 1.30am, with about 50 people sitting out the front on the street. |
| Power & Water Corporation (PWC) said restoration was under way. | Power & Water Corporation (PWC) said restoration was under way. |
| Power was restored to Katherine and Pine Creek at about 3am local time, and PWC said some suburbs of Palmerston had power restored about 9am. Four outer Darwin suburbs also regained power, PWC said. | Power was restored to Katherine and Pine Creek at about 3am local time, and PWC said some suburbs of Palmerston had power restored about 9am. Four outer Darwin suburbs also regained power, PWC said. |
| Treasurer Dave Tollner said power should be fully restored by the afternoon. | Treasurer Dave Tollner said power should be fully restored by the afternoon. |
| PWC has a history of power failures, and the government has introduced legislation to move it into three separate government-owned enterprises, with the opposition claiming it is being primed for privatisation. | PWC has a history of power failures, and the government has introduced legislation to move it into three separate government-owned enterprises, with the opposition claiming it is being primed for privatisation. |
| On Monday, Tollner said an independent report had found the PWC networks were 27% less efficient than those in other states. | On Monday, Tollner said an independent report had found the PWC networks were 27% less efficient than those in other states. |
| The Utilities Commission has proposed a 43% increase in electricity network charges for the Northern Territory, which the government opposes. | The Utilities Commission has proposed a 43% increase in electricity network charges for the Northern Territory, which the government opposes. |