SA: Retailers to seek compensation over blackouts

AAP General News (Australia)
12-03-1999
SA: Retailers to seek compensation over blackouts

ADELAIDE, Dec 3 AAP - South Australian retailers are expected to seek compensation
over yesterday's blackouts which left more than half the state without electricity.

Australian Retailers Association SA executive director Stirling Griff said two major
retailers were speaking to their insurance companies about how to claim compensation.

Mr Griff said at least $2.5 million to $3 million in retail sales was lost yesterday
at a time when Christmas shopping was peaking.

"Certainly the majority of retailers who feel that they were adversely affected financially
should be, and many of them would be, looking at ways in which they can make up for lost
income," Mr Griff said.

"This is the most critical time of year for us and the month of December is worth about
$1.2 billion.

"This is in fact one of the most important weeks and Thurday is one of the most important
shopping days."

About 400,000 electricity customers were affected by blackouts after a number of generation
units failed, prompting the state's electricity transmission company to begin rotating
power cuts to minimise the impact of the shortages on any one customer.

Mr Griff said that while he did not expect people to be warned of natural events which
might cause power failures, he felt not enough notice had been given about the rolling
power cuts.

It was not good enough to rely on radio coverage because many shops did not have the
radio on, he said.

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KEYWORD: ELECTRICITY NIGHTLEAD

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