NSW: Weather breaks as residents regain power

AAP General News (Australia)
12-10-2007
NSW: Weather breaks as residents regain power

SYDNEY, Dec 10 AAP - About 800 homes were still without power today after hailstorms
yesterday hammered parts of Sydney and the Central Coast.

Thousands of residents have had power restored to their homes and businesses after
hail yesterday damaged property, cars and trees in Sydney's west and north-west and areas
north of the city.

Up to 13,000 homes were without electricity by 4pm (AEDT) yesterday, and 25 crews worked
through the night to restore services to all but 800 properties.

Integral Energy said power was expected to be restored for those customers by noon today.

The State Emergency Service (SES) was flooded with more than 1,200 calls for assistance
after the hail damage in the western suburbs of Blacktown and Baulkham Hills and in Sydney's
north at Hornsby.

Around 200 SES volunteers are in the field today, responding to roof damage and downed trees.

The power outages were concentrated in the north-west suburbs of Castle Hill, Kenthurst,
and Kings Park.

Showers are forecast for later today but storms are unlikely, a Bureau of Meteorology
spokesman said.

AAP vpm/was/maur/jlw

KEYWORD: STORMS NSW DAYLEAD

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