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Be power prepared this winter 

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We work all year round to keep the electricity network safe and reliable for our customers. But extreme weather, especially in winter, can damage powerlines and cause power outages. 

Find out what you can do to keep warm, safe and energy efficient this winter. 
 



Read a transcript of the video here.

Power prepared tips

Here are some simple tips to be power prepared this winter:

  1. Register your mobile number with your energy retailer – that way we can contact you if there is an emergency or power outage.
  2. Clear trees, grass and shrubs away from Private Overhead Electric Lines (POEL) on your property so they’re always in safe working condition. For information about your responsibilities, see Private electric lines.
  3. If you’re a life support customer: 
    • talk to your medical practitioner about your emergency plan 
    • make sure your medical supplies are fully stocked 
    • check the back-up battery of your life support equipment if fully charged and ready to use 

For more tips on how to prepare for an outage, see Prepare for an electrical outage.


Save on your power bill  

Energy usage can go up during winter as we spend more time inside with our lights and heaters on. 

Here are some things you can do to save on your electricity bill: 

  1. Set your fridge to 3-5°C and your freezer to -15°C. 
  2. Save up to $30 per year by fitting draught seals to external windows and doors.  
  3. Set your heater’s thermostat between 18 and 20 degrees. Every degree higher can add 15% to your heating costs.

For more tips on how to save on your winter power bill, see Power saving tips. 


Know what to do during an outage  

Sometimes unforeseen events can cause temporary interruptions to your electricity supply. We always aim to get your power back on as quickly as possible, to reduce any inconvenience to our customers. 

Power outage? 

  • Call us on 13 17 99 to report any faults and emergencies. This includes interruptions to your electricity supply, fallen powerlines or powerlines caught in trees. We'll need your full address or the number on your nearest power pole, and a description of the damage. 
  • Always stay away from fallen power poles and wires. Assume any fallen wires are live. 
  • Check if there are power outages near you by entering your suburb or postcode in our Outage Tracker: www.outagetracker.com.au 
  • If you’re a life support customer, call our priority line on 1800 818 832 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week). For more information, see Life support customers. 

Prepare for a storm  

Extreme weather can damage powerlines and cause power outages. 

Here are some things you can do to be ready if a storm impacts the network: 

  • Keep your mobile phone fully charged. Have a battery pack ready to use. 
  • Keep a battery-operated radio and torch on hand (as well as spare batteries). 
  • Check you can manually open your electric garage door or gate if you need to leave during a power outage. 
  • Make sure your energy retailer has your mobile number. They’ll pass it onto us so we can SMS important updates and notifications. 
  • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for updates. 

 

For more tips on how to prepare for a storm, see:


Quiz: Are you power prepared this winter? 

Take our quick quiz and find out:


Building a safe and reliable electricity network 

Our electricity network covers eastern and north-eastern Victoria and Melbourne’s north and east. 

We’re focused on maintaining and improving our electricity network to keep supplying safe and reliable power to our customers.  

Preparing for Victoria’s energy future

The energy sector is changing rapidly. We’re preparing for Victoria’s energy future by investing in projects that increase network capacity, improve reliability and introduce more renewable energy into the network.  

Learn more about our major projects.  

Protecting our communities from bushfires 

As part of the Victorian Government’s Powerline Bushfire Safety Program, we’re installing Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters (REFCL) in over 20 locations across the state. To find one near you, see REFCL Look-up. 

REFCLs are new technology that reduce the risk of bushfires caused by falling powerlines. They operate like a big safety switch. If a power line falls, the REFCL cuts power almost instantly before a fire can start.  For more information, see Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiters. 

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Our electricity and gas distribution network 

Customer charter 

Learn about who we are, what we do and our commitment to you in our Customer charter (PDF, 3.1 MB).  

Stay connected  

If you’d like to receive SMS or email updates from us, make sure your gas retailer has your mobile number and email address. They’ll pass it onto us and we’ll start sending you updates via SMS and email.  

You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for information and updates on our network improvements and during outages. 

 

For more winter power prepared tips: