Residents and businesses affected by the widespread Mildura power outage are being urged to document any losses or damage before cleaning up or throwing items away.
If food has spoiled in fridges or freezers, take clear photos showing the affected items and, where possible, the quantity, brand and approximate value.
Keep receipts, bank statements or online shopping records that may help prove what was purchased. Even if you do not have receipts, a detailed written list and clear photographs may still help support an insurance claim.
The same applies to electrical appliances and equipment. Photograph damaged televisions, fridges, freezers, computers, air conditioners, modems, machinery and anything else that may have been affected when the power went out or was restored.
What residents should record
Before disposing of spoiled food or damaged equipment, residents should consider recording:
- The time and date the power went off and when it returned.
- Clear photos or video of spoiled food and damaged appliances.
- Screenshots of Powercor outage notifications and text messages.
- Appliance brands, model numbers and serial numbers.
- Purchase receipts or an estimate of the appliance’s age.
- Reports, quotes or invoices from electricians and repair technicians.
- Photos of damaged switchboards, power points, wiring or other electrical equipment.
- A written list of all spoiled food, damaged equipment and other losses.
Claiming through Powercor
Powercor says customers who experienced appliance damage may submit a compensation claim through its website or contact their insurance company.
Claims made directly through Powercor are assessed under the Electricity Distribution Code of Practice. Compensation for damage caused by a voltage variation is generally calculated on a like-for-like basis, taking the appliance’s age and remaining value into account.
This means Powercor may not replace an older appliance with a brand-new equivalent.
Powercor says claimants may be asked to provide clear photographs, proof of purchase, model and serial numbers and a damage report from a qualified repairer. If possible, damaged items should be kept while the claim is being assessed.
Residents can check their eligibility, use Powercor’s claim calculator or begin a claim through the Powercor claims page .
What about spoiled food?
Powercor states that food spoilage is considered a consequential or indirect loss and is not covered through its direct property-damage compensation process.
Spoiled food and other indirect losses may instead be covered by home or business insurance, depending on the individual policy. Residents should contact their insurer before throwing items away if they are uncertain about what evidence will be required.
Powercor may also be able to provide a letter confirming that an incident affected the property. This can be requested through Powercor’s myEnergy portal to help support an insurance claim.
Taking photos does not guarantee that a claim will be approved, but having a clear record could make a significant difference. Once spoiled food has been thrown away or damaged equipment has been removed, proving the loss becomes much harder.
