Accessing electricity assets on private property

Sometimes our crews need to access private property to inspect, maintain and repair our electricity assets.

Many of our poles, lines and other equipment are situated on private properties, so access is essential to deliver safe and reliable power to our customers.

We may need to access your property to:

inspect or repair powerlines, poles or substations
read or inspect electricity meters
manage trees and vegetation near powerlines
restore power during outages
support new connections or upgrades
undertake planned maintenance
repair damaged equipment.

Under the Electricity Safety Act 1998, we have a legal obligation to conduct these inspections to mitigate risks to property owners and the wider community.

Please find answers to frequently answered questions below or contact our team on 13 22 06 for more information.

Frequently asked questions

To support the work we do, Powercor (like all Victorian electricity distributors) is legally permitted to access private property to complete necessary electricity activities. This allows us to carry out important work without delay. These rights are set out in:

Electricity Industry Act 2000 (Section 93 [1]) – Grants legal access rights for network activities.
Deemed Distribution Contract – Requires property owners to provide safe and unhindered access to our authorised representatives at reasonable times.

There are registered easements across many parts of our networks, which we are granted access to through the arrangements above. This allows for:

legal access to our equipment so we can undertake our work
restrictions on certain land uses near powerlines
continuity when properties change ownership.

Our representatives carry out their work respectfully and responsibly. We provide them information and training to ensure they understand their responsibilities when attending private properties.

While it’s not always possible or practical for us to provide advance notice before entering your property, we make every effort to do so where we can.

Our staff and contractors will:

present identification on request
treat property with care and respect
leave sites safe and secure
comply with biosecurity measures and sign-in requirements.

During emergencies involving safety risks or power outages, we may need to enter properties quickly without notice. Even in these cases, we will continue to follow the access procedures outlined above wherever possible.

Landowners have a role to play allowing quick and safe access to electricity assets on their property. These steps include:

Keep easement areas clear – Don’t plant trees, build structures or store materials over or near powerlines and underground cables.
Maintain clear access – Ensure gates and routes to equipment remain accessible.
Inform us of requirements – Advise of locked gates, security alarms or pets.
Secure animals – Prevent animals from causing harm.

Email info@powercor.com.au to provide any access requirements for your property so our crews arrive prepared.