Fire safety

Fires, including bushfires, can damage and destroy vital community infrastructure such as the electricity network.

Depending on the damage, it may take days or longer to complete repairs to electrical infrastructure.

We advise people to follow three important steps to be prepared:

Be Safe. Your health and safety is the priority.
Be Smart. If the power goes out, you’ll want to stay connected.
Be Ready. Have a plan in place for back-up power.

If a major fire or bushfire is threatening, follow these tips to know what to do immediately before, during and after the event in relation to electricity safety.

Beware offallen powerlines

Always treat them as ‘live’ and stay at least 10 metres away. Report them immediately by calling: 13 24 12. If the situation is life-threatening, call 000.

Listen: Beware of fallen power lines

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What to do

If you are evacuating then do so early as fallen or sagging powerlines affected by high temperatures can increase safety risks on the roads.
If you choose to stay in the property, be aware you may lose power, even if your home or business isn’t directly affected by the fires.
Check your emergency plan and kit.
Know where a safe evacuation point is planned within your community.

If the fire is near powerlines, stay at least 25 metres away from the powerlines.
Beware of powerlines sagging lower and swaying wider than usual due to high temperatures and winds.
Beware of burned trees which may threaten to fall causing risks for both people and powerlines.
Beware of fallen powerlines and anything in contact with them. Call us to report it immediately on 13 24 12.
If your vehicle comes into contact with a fallen powerline or power pole, remain in the vehicle if it is safe to do so and call 000 immediately. See how to make an emergency escape below for more information.

If you evacuated, then check emergency services information to see if it is safe to return.
Check our outage map for the estimated time power will be back on.
Report fallen powerlines, network damage, fires or trees contacting powerlines immediately on 13 24 12 or call 000 if the situation is life-threatening.
If water used for fire fighting entered your property then be careful and make sure it is safe before turning appliances back on.
- If any switches do not turn on, or automatically shut off, this indicates the wiring may be affected.
- You’ll need a licensed electrician to test our wiring and appliances.
If you have rooftop solar panels, then contact your installer or a licensed electrician to check the condition of these panels before turning the system on.

How to make an emergency escape if trapped by fallen powerlines

Remain in the vehicle, if safe to do so, and call 000 immediately
If escape is absolutely necessary (because of fire), jump well clear to avoid contact with the vehicle and the ground at the same time
When you jump, land with your feet together. Do not touch the vehicle, fall or allow your feet to step apart
You must shuffle or jump, with your feet together until you are at least 10 metres clear of the vehicle, powerlines or anything else in contact with them
Once clear, do not return to the vehicle for any reason
Call 13 24 12 to report the fallen line

Listen: How to make an emergency escape if trapped by fallen powerlines

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Power reconnections

If your property has been disconnected or affected by fire or water, you will need a registered electrical contractor:
Search by location through Energy Safe Victoria at: https://esv.vic.gov.au/licensing-coes/public-register-and-searches/
The electrician will complete a safety and compliance inspection
Once any repairs are done they will issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety to us (at info@powercor.com.au)
They’ll arrange the reconnection of your power through us by phoning 1300 360 410.

Listen: Power reconnections

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Network response

We monitor fire reports closely to make sure our crews are safe and ready for anything.
We make sure high priority maintenance is completed.
Field work may be reduced leading up to the event so crews are fresh and able to be called in at all hours.
Resources including field crews, network operators, Customer Service Agents and equipment are on stand-by for immediate response.
We’ll coordinate with other emergency services to clear fallen trees on roads and for directions to ensure it is safe for our crews to travel into affected areas and to respond.
Our focus will be on reducing the numbers of customers affected and restoring power as quickly and safely as possible.
We’ll send messages to customers via SMS if there is a power outage and including an estimated time of restoration. Initially, this estimate is dependent on a site assessment by our crews.
We’ll keep our outage map and current outage lists up to date.

Listen: Network response

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Fire safety

Fire safety