Thousands of Mildura residents could be without electricity for days following Monday morning’s crash at Birdwoodton — and the reason is much more complicated than simply replacing a damaged power pole.
The incident occurred on McEdward Street shortly after 6:30am when a vehicle collided with a power pole.
More than 5,000 homes and businesses initially lost power, before Powercor was able to reroute supply through other parts of the network and reduce the number affected to around 2,700 properties.
But for those still without power, getting everyone reconnected could take some time.
Why can’t Powercor simply turn the power back on?
The collision affected what Powercor describes as a major feeder — essentially one of the backbone powerlines supplying parts of Mildura from Merbein.
More importantly, the incident caused what is known as a high-voltage injection.
That means abnormally high voltage may have entered parts of the low-voltage electricity network supplying homes and businesses.
Before Powercor can safely restore electricity, crews need to make sure the incident hasn't caused damage further down the network or at individual properties.
Powercor says inspectors are carrying out thorough safety checks across the affected area and need access to electricity meters at individual properties to complete the testing.
With around 2,700 properties affected, Powercor has warned that restoration could take a number of days.
Make sure crews can reach your meter
If your property is still without power, one simple thing could help.
Powercor needs access to electricity meters to complete its testing.
Residents should make sure their meter isn't blocked or inaccessible when inspectors arrive.
Powercor is also asking affected residents to check their switchboards and electrical equipment for signs of damage.
If you notice damaged electrical equipment, switchboard problems, unusual smells or anything else that doesn't look right, don't attempt electrical repairs yourself.
Report the problem to Powercor.
Need help during the outage?
For some residents, an extended power outage is much more than an inconvenience. If you or someone you know needs assistance, these are the important numbers:
- Immediate danger or medical emergency: Call 000.
- Powercor faults, emergencies or suspected electrical damage: Call 13 24 12.
- Life-support customers: Contact Powercor on 13 24 12 if you rely on life-support equipment and need assistance. If the situation becomes life-threatening, call 000.
- General community assistance: Contact Mildura Rural City Council on 03 5018 8100.
Also check on neighbours who may need assistance, particularly older residents, people living alone and anyone who relies on electrically powered medical equipment.
A relief station is also being established
Mildura Rural City Council has announced that a relief station will operate from 8am Tuesday to assist people affected by the prolonged outage.
The station will provide residents with somewhere to charge devices and access the internet.
Residents should check the latest Mildura Rural City Council information for the confirmed location and operating details.
Take care around electrical equipment
People should keep well away from fallen powerlines and treat any damaged electrical infrastructure as live.
If something at your property appears damaged or you notice an unusual electrical smell, don't attempt to investigate or repair it yourself.
It's also worth keeping fridge and freezer doors closed as much as possible while the power remains off.
Never use outdoor cooking equipment indoors, and generators should never be connected directly into a house or shed electrical system unless the installation has been properly designed and installed for that purpose.
One crash, a much bigger problem
The electrical disturbance caused by Monday morning's incident also triggered a number of automatic fire alarms across Mildura and surrounding areas.
So while the incident began with one vehicle hitting one power pole, its effects have spread across a substantial part of Mildura's electricity network.
Powercor crews are continuing to work through affected properties as quickly as possible.
For residents still waiting, the frustrating part is that restoring power isn't simply a matter of replacing the damaged pole and flicking a switch.
Powercor needs to make sure the affected network — and the properties connected to it — are safe before electricity can be restored.
