Fierce storms often bring lightning and strong winds that can cause widespread damage in communities.

This can include bringing down powerlines or damaging other electrical assets both above and below ground.

These types of storms can occur at any time of the year but particularly during summer.

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

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

But if a major storm is forecast, then follow these tips to know what to do immediately before, during and after a storm.

Beware of fallen 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

Extreme weather can damage power poles and wires.  

Always beware of fallen power lines. 

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. 

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Before a storm

  • Secure loose items like garden furniture, toys, trampolines and building materials that could become airborne in strong winds.
  • If you choose to leave your home, make sure you turn off and unplug sensitive electronic equipment like televisions and computers before you go.
  • Check your emergency plan and kit.

During a storm

  • If you’ve lost power, turn off and unplug sensitive electronic equipment like televisions and computers.
  • Beware of fallen powerlines. They can often be hard to see, for example, in doorways or on pathways.
  • Stay at least 10 metres away from any 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.

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 us to report fallen powerlines on 13 24 12.

 

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

How to make an emergency escape if trapped by fallen power lines. 

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 power lines. 

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After a storm

  • If you chose to leave your home, check emergency services information to see if it is safe to return.
  • Check our outage map for the estimated time that power will be back on.
  • If your power outage is not shown, then report it to us online here.
  • Be cautious when checking for damage around your home as there may be fallen powerlines.
  • If power is back on to your street and not your property, then there may be damage to your private service. You will need to contact a licensed electrician to repair and reconnect your electricity safely.

Power reconnections

If there is damage to power infrastructure on your property, you’ll need a registered electrical contractor:

 

Listen: Power reconnections

Power reconnections.

If there is damage to power infrastructure on your property, you’ll 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.

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Network response

  • We monitor weather closely to make sure our crews are ready.
  • We make sure all 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 storm affected areas and to respond.
  • Our focus will be on reducing the number 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 full site assessment by our crews.
  • We’ll keep our outage map and current outage lists up to date.

Listen: Network response

We monitor weather closely to make sure our crews are ready.

We make sure all 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 storm affected areas and to respond.

Our focus will be on reducing the number 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 include an estimated time of restoration. Initially, this estimate is dependent on a full site assessment by our crews.

We’ll keep our outage map and current outage lists up to date.

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MERV flood response
Our Mobile Engagement and Response Vehicle (fondly known as MERV) may be deployed into affected communities. This provides an on-the-ground place to talk with our people about power supplies and offers 20 charging lockers for small devices like mobile phones as well as cup of hot tea.

Other important sources of information

State Emergency Services: Call 132 500 or visit ses.vic.gov.au. Download the VicEmergency app at: emergency.vic.gov.au. If you need interpreter services call 13 14 50.

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