More than 400 field and office employees, from approximately 40 locations across the state, have converged on the North Coast and are working as quickly as safety will allow, to restore power to just over 2,300 homes and business currently affected.

Aerial and on-ground patrols have identified considerable damage to the network, with the current estimate of power poles needing repair at 440.

With fires still active in some locations, safe access continues to hamper restoration efforts, with further network damage and power interruptions expected.

Our crew leaders have been developing plans to navigate significant issues in numerous locations, resulting from difficult terrain and fallen trees.

Large machinery such as bulldozers, excavators and elevated working platforms (cherry pickers) are being used to assist with restoration efforts. Getting this large machinery into many damaged areas has been and will continue to be, an extremely slow and arduous task.

Unfortunately, given the extent of the damage, access challenges and active bushfires, it is not possible to provide our customers with firm information as to when their power will be restored.

In the Nambucca Local Government Area crews have assessed majority of the damaged electrical network in the fire damaged area and are working safely and steadily to repair damage.

Approximately 100 customers are without power in the vicinity of Bowraville and South Arm. The extremely steep terrain has made restoration work difficult; however power should be restored to majority of customers by Saturday, conditions permitting.

Estimated restoration times will be available on the outage page of Essential Energy's website at www.essentialenergy.com.au once known. We apologise we are unable to provide further details at this time however our crews continue to be committed to restoring power as quickly as safety will allow.

Emergency Services confirm 19 homes lost in the Nambucca Valley

Financial support for bush-fire affected residents