Basslink has found a fault in the electricity cable that runs under the sea and connects Tasmania and Victoria.
The Basslink Interconnector is the world’s second longest undersea electricity cable and it aims to enhances security of energy supply on both sides of Bass Strait.
The cable protects Tasmania against the risk of energy shortages while providing Victoria and southern states with secure renewable energy during times of peak demand.
Basslink is unsure of the cause of the fault but until it is resolved the Tasmanian region of the National Electricity Market (NEM) is temporarily not connected to the mainland grid.
Basslink CEO, Malcolm Eccles, said a team of experts have been assembled who will provide diagnosis and repairs to the fault and return the interconnector to service as soon as possible.
There has been no impact to Tasmanian or Victorian residential or commercial customers as a result of the outage.
Basslink is owned and operated by Basslink Pty Ltd which is owned by Keppel Infrastructure Trust. Hydro Tasmania has a financial contract with Basslink Pty Ltd.
Hydro Tasmania, will continue to generate renewable energy for the Tasmanian region, using a range of levers at its disposal, including from water in storage and wind power.
