Summer 2024-25
Do you have a bushfire safety plan? Now’s the time to make one or update last year’s.
Customers in bushfire-risk areas should prepare for warmer temperatures and an increase in fire activity across large parts of the state this summer. For more information, visit Emergency Management Victoria's website.
Prepare for a bushfire:
During a bushfire, you may experience a gas or electrical outage, even if your property isn't directly affected by fire. While we'll attempt to fix your outage as quickly as possible, we may need to wait until we can safely access the area to make repairs.
Fixing your outage may take several hours, as we need to safely access the area to make repairs.
Be power prepared for bushfires:
- Make sure you have a fire plan that review each year. The Victorian Government and CFA provide online resources to help you develop a plan.
- Install an alternative water supply and back-up generator to pump water.
- Keep a power bank handy and keep your devices fully charged as often as possible.
- Ensure you have access to battery-operated torches and radios and keep spare batteries handy.
If you've been affected by a bushfire
Your safety
If you're returning to your property after a fire, please use caution and follow all directions from emergency services.
Please do not approach or handle any damaged or fallen powerlines in the area as they can be extremely dangerous. If downed lines are blocking access to your road or driveway, please call 13 17 99 to report the issue.
Getting your power back on
If we can't get your power back on, we'll leave a letter at your property letting you know. You'll need to contact a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) before the electricity connection can be made.
If your property was damaged/destroyed and you want a temporary electricity supply (to power a caravan for example), please contact an REC to arrange this.
Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter (REFCL)
REFCLs are a form of bushfire mitigation technology that act as a giant safety switch. When there's a fault on a powerline, such as if it touches the ground or a tree falls on it, the REFCL detects the fault and limits the energy flow within one tenth of a second.
You can learn more about our REFCL program here.