ENDEAVOUR Energy is working to restore supply to some 12,000 customers predominantly in the Illawarra and the South Coast.
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Power has been restored to 7000 customers but areas still affected include Albion Park, Oak Flats, Kiama Downs, tullimbar, Jasper's Brush and Jamberoo.
Endeavour hopes to restore supply later tonight if the winds abate as predicted.
The public are urged to report fallen powerlines on 131 003
Update 5.30pm: Emergency Service Illawarra Acting deputy region controller Alex McFadden said there have been 208 calls for assistance across the Illawarra and South Coast as at 5.30.The northern part of the Shoalhaven has been worst hit.
A gusts of 114km was recorded at Albion Park at about 4.30pm and gusts of 106km in Kiama.
Gusts of 90km were reported in Bombaderry at 2.30pm.
The winds are expected to ease off over night but another front will move through southern NSW tomorrow morning bringing with it strong gusts. The worst of those winds are expected to be south of the Illawarra.
There is a series of cold fronts expected in the state about every 24 hours until the weekend.
Phone the SES on 132 500 for assistance.
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4.20pm State Emergency Service Illawarra spokeswoman Alex McFadden said there had been more than 120 call outs, mostly in the Illawarra and South Coast.
She said the majority of those had been from Nowra.
Ms McFadden said they were expecting those numbers to increase significantly in the next two hours as the winds moved north.
She there had been about 70 reports for trees down and 20-30 reports of roof damage.
Kiama SES volunteer Andrew McCullough said in Kiama there had been at least 5 jobs at 4.20pm - mostly involving downed trees.
He also said they expected more into the evening.
Richard Hart from Shellharbour SES said they had been received three calls for assistance but were expecting more as people got home from work.
Phil Campbell from the SES said there had been 370 calls across the state. He said the service had 90 volunteers in the field - particularly in the Blue Mountains, Illawarra and Southern Tablelands.
He urged people to tether objects such as trampoline and bring pets and children inside.
Some 3000 people have power outages on the South Coast and about 1600 in the Southern Highlands.