Planned outages

Why are there planned outages?

Planned outages allow our crews to do repairs, maintenance and other work that can’t be done safely while the power is on. This work is necessary to keep the electricity network safe, reliable and ready for future demand.

During a planned outage, we:

replace poles, wires, or transformers that are aging or damaged
inspect and maintain underground cables and equipment
install new equipment to improve reliability or support growth
connect new homes or businesses to the network
clear vegetation near powerlines to reduce bushfire risk.

Before the outage, we notify impacted customers by letter or SMS and prepare the site for the work. If you prefer SMS updates about planned outages, call 1300 360 795. We get your phone and email details from your electricity retailer (the company that sends you your electricity bills).

On the outage day, we’ll safely isolate the power, complete the scheduled work and get the power back on once it's safe to do so.

What causes delays in getting the power back on?

Safety concerns

If conditions on site change, such as unexpected weather, traffic hazards or equipment risks, our crew may need to pause work to stay safe.
Weather conditions

High winds, lightning or extreme temperatures can make it unsafe for crews to work, especially near powerlines.
Complex repairs or upgrades

Sometimes the work turns out to be more complicated than expected, requiring additional time, equipment or specialist support.
Coordination with other services

Some work requires collaborating with other utilities or contractors and delays can occur if they’re held up or unavailable.
Access issues

If we can’t safely reach the work site due to blocked roads, locked gates or other obstacles, this can delay the start or completion of the job.

How we schedule planned outages

Weekend outages

We always aim to avoid scheduling planned outages on weekends. However, urgent or high-risk work must be carried out as soon as possible. For example, if a dangerous powerline fault poses a safety risk or could lead to a larger unplanned outage, we may need to schedule work over the weekend.

For schools and families, weekend outages can help avoid disruptions like arranging daycare, picking children up early from school, or managing remote learning. In industrial areas, weekend work can reduce the impact on weekday operations, helping businesses avoid costly downtime.

While weekend outages are not ideal, they can sometimes be the least disruptive option for the overall community.

Work during the day

Planned outages are almost always scheduled during daytime hours because it’s safer and more efficient. Our crew can clearly see equipment and surroundings, which reduces the risk of errors or accidents. Daytime also allows for better coordination with traffic control, civil teams and vegetation crews, who usually operate during business hours.

Night work is avoided unless essential, such as in emergencies, or when daytime access isn’t possible due to traffic, safety or business operations.

Work year-round

Planned outages may be required at any time of year. This is because our electricity network operates 24/7 and seasonal conditions don’t change the need for critical upgrades or repairs.

We understand outages can be more challenging during extreme weather, so we aim to keep them as short as possible and provide advance notice to help you prepare.

A couple sitting together inside while looking at a laptop

How to prepare before and during an outage

There are many things you can do to prepare for an outage. This includes stocking up on ready-to-eat foods, charging your mobile phone and setting up equipment safely if you run a business. For more information, visit How to prepare for a power outage.

During an outage, you can stay safe by using different ways of cooking, keeping away from potential hazards and knowing how to protect your electrical equipment. To stay comfortable, you can set your house up to stay warmer or cooler based on the weather. To find out more, visit Tips during a power outage.

How to stay updated

Outage Tracker

Outage Tracker shows the latest updates about any planned and unplanned outages in our electricity distribution network. This includes current outage locations, the status of each outage and the estimated time we might get the power back on. All you need to do is type the address into the search field.

Below are the four different planned outage stages you can see on Outage Tracker.