Prolonged Power Outage Payments
The Australian and Victorian Governments will provide Prolonged Power Outage payments for households that have been without power for seven cumulative days following the January 2026 bushfires and heatwave.
Subject to specific eligibility criteria, those without power for seven days from 7 January 2026 will be eligible for $2,380 per week for up to three weeks.
We will distribute the payment to eligible customers on the government's behalf.
When will applications open?
We will send a text message to customers who may be eligible for this relief payment and ask them to complete an online application form.
We will also provide options for customers who do not have internet access or who need help with the application process in person or over the phone.
Information you need before applying
- Full name of the electricity account holder – this will be the person applying for the payment.
- National Metering Identifier (NMI) – this is the 10 or 11-digit number that you can find on your power bill. The NMI must match the electricity account for a property that was without power for 7 cumulative days due to the severe weather event between 7-10 January 2026.
- Meter number - this can be found on your bill or electricity meter.
- Contact number and bank details – these must match the electricity account holder’s details.
Eligibility criteria
Subject to specific eligibility criteria, those without power for seven cumulative days from 12.01am on 7 January 2026 will be eligible for:
$2,380 per week for households for up to three weeks.
To be eligible for the payment, residential customers must:
- have a residential electricity account with a national meter identification number (NMI) within the AusNet electricity distribution network
- be electricity account holder of a property that:
- lost power due to the severe weather events in Victoria between 7 January and 10 January 2026 and
- was without power for 7 cumulative days
- has not already received a Prolonged Power Outage Payment for the same electricity account
- have applied via AusNet’s online form, no later than 11.59 pm (AEDT) on 31 March 2026.
Note 1: Payments are for each cumulative 7-day period per electricity account holder, up to a maximum of 3 payments.
Note 2: A 7-day cumulative period means the overall time without power does not need to be continuous, as long as it all adds up to 7 days.
22 January 2026
Our Community Support Team and Emergency Management Mobile Assistance (EMMA) vehicle will be at the following location:
- Terip Terip, 8 Springs Road, Terip Terip (corner Top Road and Springs Road) from 11am to 2.30pm
VicTraffic is the official source of road disruption information for Victorian roads. Check traffic, roadworks, and event closures, set up watchlists, and receive notifications.
23 January 2026
Our Community Support Team and Emergency Management Mobile Assistance (EMMA) vehicle will be at the following location:
- Alexandra Library, 49 Grant Street, Alexandra from 10am to 1.30pm
Power restored but no electricity?
If the power is back on in your area but your property doesn’t have electricity, your electrical connection point may be damaged.
What you need to do
- Contact your insurance company as they may ask you to use one of their recommended Registered Electrical Contractors (REC).
- Contact a Registered Electrical Contractor (REC) to repair the damage. You’ll need to pay for this work.
- Once repairs are complete, your REC will issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety and send it to us at faultsinfoline@ausnetservices.com.
Your REC will call 13 17 99 to arrange reconnection. We will waive our reconnection fee in this instance.
Support and updates
- Our Bushfire Support Line is open 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday on 1300 561 171 for questions about disconnections, recovery, support and claims.
- Keep checking Outage Tracker for latest updates: www.outagetracker.com.au.
- Continue reporting any faults to 13 17 99.
- Download our important information about bushfires factsheet (PDF, 1.1 MB)
- Tips on how to prepare for an outage and stay comfortable during one: www.ausnetservices.com.au/outages.
- For emergency relief payments, call the VicEmergency Hotline on 1800 226 226 (Press 0, then 1 to talk to someone or press 9 for an interpreter).
- For information about where to access support, including the Victorian Government’s Emergency Relief Fund, visit Relief and Recovery - VicEmergency.
Be power prepared
Customer and community safety is our top priority - here are some tips to help you be power prepared:
- If you're in immediate danger, call 000. For emergency services, call the SES on 13 25 00.
- Keep away from fallen powerlines and assume any fallen or damaged wires are live.
- Life support customers, please be ready to activate your emergency plan. Call our priority line anytime on 1800 818 832.
- Charge your battery packs so they're ready to power your mobile phones.
- If you are using a portable generator, please follow Energy Safe's guide on Using a generator safely.
- Have battery operated torches and radios in a place easy to access - keep spare batteries handy too.
- Keep some cash on hand in case electronic payment systems go down during an outage.
- Make sure you can open your garage or gate manually so you can leave your home if the power goes out.
- If you have an electric water pump, stock up on bottled water.
- Report new faults and emergencies online or on 13 17 99.
- Keep checking our Outage Tracker for latest restoration times and see Outages for tips on before, during and after an outage.
- Look out for fallen trees and debris and never enter floodwaters.
- If there is damage to your property or your private electrical line, contact a registered electrician for repairs.
- For the latest weather updates, visit Bureau of Meteorology.