About 12,000 Adelaide properties still have no power after Monday night's strong winds brought down trees, branches and power lines.
The damage to lines is extensive and some people might spend another day without electricity, Paul Roberts from SA Power Networks told ABC Radio on Wednesday.
"We're not talking minor repairs here or minor restoration jobs, we're talking about major rebuilding of sections of the network which have been smashed by trees and tree limbs brought down," he said.
About 90,000 businesses and homes were affected, mainly in Adelaide's foothills.
The SA State Emergency Services (SES) chief officer Chris Beattie thanked its volunteers and other emergency services, who responded to about 1000 calls for assistance after the strong winds.
The wind uprooted trees and caused branches to fall, resulting in considerable damage to people's homes and fences, cars and public infrastructure.
The winds, which gusted to over 100 km/h in some places, followed two recent heatwaves which saw Adelaide temperatures soar well into the forties.
"Our volunteers are out there in all conditions, often when the weather is at its worst, saving lives and keeping people and property safe," Mr Beattie said on Wednesday.
"Our volunteers were often working clearing one tree or branch while others were falling around them."
