Two Separate Cable Theft Incidents Rock Queensland Overnight

Authorities warn of deadly consequences after separate incidents leave one man critically injured and thousands without power.

Browns Plains Substation Fire and Outage

A fire erupted at the Energex Browns Plains substation in south-east Queensland at approximately 2:45 AM, originating in a cable pit outside the facility.

"An individual broke into the cable pit and attempted to cut an 11,000-volt cable."

Impact: Approximately 13,000 customers lost power, affecting the suburbs of Boronia Heights, Hillcrest, and Regents Park. Power was restored to nearly half of those affected by 10:15 AM.

Cause: The individual targeted an aluminum cable. Energex Field Delivery General Manager Kev Lavender confirmed the company has been replacing copper cables with aluminum to deter theft.

Broader Context: Energex has reported nearly 1,000 attempts of cable theft across Queensland in the past 12 months. The state government has introduced legislation to strengthen penalties for metal theft.

Toowoomba Critical Injury Incident

A 31-year-old man was critically injured in a separate incident in Toowoomba at approximately 3:00 AM, occurring at an Ergon Energy feeder pit on Ascot Street in the suburb of Newtown.

"The man received a high-voltage shock... resulting in an explosion and a fireball approximately 2 meters in diameter."

Injury: The man sustained significant burns to his chest and face. Remarkably, he traveled approximately 250 meters from the substation to a service station on Tor Street to seek assistance.

Outcome: He was transported to Toowoomba Hospital in a potentially life-threatening condition. Police have not yet been able to interview him due to his medical state.

Power Outage: Approximately 800 Ergon Energy customers in Newtown experienced power outages for several hours.

Cable Details: The cable the man allegedly attempted to cut was identified as aluminum.

Investigation: The Queensland Police Service is investigating. Acting Assistant Commissioner Doug McDonald stated that metal theft is a significant issue across the state and that authorities are dedicating resources to address it.

Public Safety and Economic Impact

Energex's Kev Lavender issued a stark warning: individuals involved in such incidents could have suffered serious injuries or death. He encouraged the public to report suspicious activity around infrastructure to police.

"This practice is costing Queensland ratepayers millions of dollars in repairs."

Economic Costs:

• Ergon Energy reported incurring approximately $4.5 million annually due to copper thefts.
• The company plans to replace copper wires with aluminum during system upgrades to deter future theft.
• Energex stated the ongoing theft is costing Queensland ratepayers millions of dollars in repairs.