Reconnection close after extensive power outage

Remote NSW towns left without power following devastating storms are able to access federal disaster payments as the network operator prepares to reconnect them to the energy grid.

Broken Hill has had its sixth consecutive night without losing power, Western NSW Minister Tara Moriarty said on Thursday.

Severe outages followed thunderstorms on October 17 which damaged powerlines, while back-up generators delivered intermittent power to 20,000 locals.

Transmission network operator TransGrid expects to reconnect residents to the national energy grid within 24 hours as workers fix 3.5km of transmission lines.

"That's much sooner than was originally expected, it is good news for the community," Ms Moriarty said.

Homes and businesses in Broken Hill should have no interruption to their power supply as it switches from back-up generators to the grid once the work is complete.

But some residents in surrounding areas including Wilcannia and Menindee could be out for up to three hours as the switch takes place, with infrastructure company Essential Energy to notify customers ahead of time.

The approaching reconnection comes as income support payments are offered to residents and businesses.

The federal assistance will provide up to 13 weeks of support for workers and sole traders who lost income.

Emergency Management Minister Jenny McAllister said the severe storms and resulting electricity outages had impacted livelihoods.

"This is a really difficult time for a lot of far western communities impacted by the recent storms and the power outages," she said.

Applications for the disaster recovery allowance opened on Thursday and people can check their eligibility and apply for assistance through Services Australia and myGov.

The assistance comes after power companies Origin and Energy Australia agreed to defer bills for impacted customers, with AGL also agreeing on Thursday, Ms Moriarty said.

National Australia Bank are offering grants of up to $1000 to cover emergency expenses and ANZ is offering hardship provisions.

The NSW government has announced support payments of $200 for residents and up to $400 for businesses, available from next week.

How the outages occurred will be subject to government discussions, Ms Moriarty said.

"The priority for us at the moment is to make sure we get through this emergency situation, get the power back on, give the community certainty about the situation that they're in, and then we will be looking at what has happened," she said.