Home, AusNet logo

Prepare for an electrical outage

Power outages can happen at any time but are more likely during summer due to high demand on the network and storms and bushfires.
Make sure you’re prepared if the unexpected happens.

A lit torch near to a portable radio and batteries

How do I prepare?

We've made a few videos and a fact sheet to help you get up to speed on the things you need to know. 

Power contingency

Bushfire plans

Garage door

Preparing for an outage as a residential customer

Make sure you have a power outage plan ready to go if the power goes out.

If you don’t already have plan in place for your household, you can visit the Power Outage Plan website for advice. This site is supported by The Energy Charter and contains helpful tips, advice and information to help you get prepared. You can get a step-by-step instruction guide on how to develop your own power outage plan, including a handy downloadable template.

Plus the tips below will help reduce the impacts on you and your family and keep you safe.

Before an outage

During an outage

After an outage

Preparing for an outage as a business customer

There’s never a convenient time to experience a power outage. To reduce the impact on your operations, here are some tips to keep your business running safely.

Preparing for an outage in extreme weather

We’re working hard to make the electricity network safe and reliable. Extreme heat, storm events and high demand all put the network under greater pressure. Outages will happen, so it is important we’re all power prepared. A little bit of planning goes a long way.

Check out our simple tips below to stay safe and prepare for outages in extreme weather.

Storm tips

If you live in an area prone to storms, we recommend having a plan to help you minimise risk and take action in the event of storm damage or a power outage.
Some factors to consider before, during and after a storm are provided below.

Bushfire tips

Ahead of each bushfire season, customers in bushfire-risk areas should prepare for warmer temperatures and an increase in fire activity across large parts of the state.

During a bushfire, you may experience interruptions to your electricity and/or gas supply, even if your property isn’t directly affected.

Reconnection of electricity in a bushfire event may take several hours or even days, depending on the time it takes to access the area, conduct repairs and ensure safety. This means that your bushfire plans should factor in a possible loss of gas and electricity.