AusNet Services, the network for eastern Victoria and the state-wide grid
AusNet is both a distribution network for eastern Victoria and the transmission network operator for the entire state. As a distributor, it delivers power to around 800,000 customers across 80,000 square kilometres, from the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne to the Latrobe Valley, the Yarra Valley, the High Country and East Gippsland. As a transmission operator, it owns and operates the 220 kV and 500 kV backbone that connects every generator and distributor in Victoria. The AusNet outage map is the tool customers check first when the power goes out in Croydon, Lilydale, Healesville, Warragul, Sale, Bairnsdale or Wodonga.
- The size of the AusNet network and the regions it covers
- Why bushfires and storms drive most outages on the AusNet grid
- The investments and technologies AusNet uses to restore power faster
- The customer-facing outage map, alerts and concessions
From Melbourne's outer suburbs to East Gippsland and the High Country
AusNet was acquired in 2022 by a consortium led by Brookfield Asset Management. It operates as a regulated utility under the AER for distribution and the AER plus AEMO for transmission.
Key figures for the AusNet electric network:
- Around 800,000 distribution customer connections.
- 80,000 square kilometres of distribution service area, around 35% of Victoria's land mass.
- About 49,000 kilometres of distribution powerlines.
- Around 6,500 kilometres of high-voltage transmission lines covering the entire state of Victoria.
The distribution network covers the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley, the Dandenong Ranges, Gippsland (including the Latrobe Valley), the High Country, north-east Victoria and the Murray border around Wodonga.
Why bushfires define outage risk on the AusNet network
AusNet operates in some of the highest-fire-risk landscapes in Australia. The Black Saturday fires of 2009 originated on AusNet infrastructure, and the legacy of that event shapes the network's risk management to this day.
Bushfires
The Yarra Valley, the Dandenong Ranges, Gippsland and the High Country are among the most fire-prone regions in the country. AusNet runs the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program, mandated by the Victorian Government after the 2009 Black Saturday fires, including REFCL (Rapid Earth Fault Current Limiter) devices that detect line faults and reduce ignition risk.
Severe storms and high winds
Strong westerly fronts in winter and convective storms in summer bring down lines across the eastern Victorian network. The June 2021 storms in the Dandenong Ranges left tens of thousands of customers without power for over a week, the worst outage event in the network's history.
Vegetation
Mountain ash forests in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Ranges produce some of the tallest trees in the world. Tree falls onto powerlines during storms are a major cause of long-duration outages.
Heatwaves
Multi-day heatwaves stress transformers and can trigger AEMO-directed load shedding when the Victorian grid runs short of generation.
Powerline Bushfire Safety Program, undergrounding and Marinus Link
AusNet's investment programme is the most bushfire-focused of any Australian distributor, combined with major transmission projects to integrate new renewable generation into the Victorian grid.
AusNet investment highlights
- Around $1 billion per year of total capital expenditure across distribution and transmission.
- More than 700 REFCL devices and Aerial Bundled Conductor installations under the Powerline Bushfire Safety Program.
- Major transmission projects including Western Renewables Link and the Victorian side of Marinus Link to Tasmania.
REFCL bushfire protection
REFCL devices detect a line fault within milliseconds and reduce the voltage to a level that cannot ignite a fire. Victoria mandated REFCL installation across the highest-risk zones after Black Saturday, and AusNet has rolled them out across the Yarra Valley, Dandenong Ranges and Gippsland.
Aerial Bundled Conductor and undergrounding
AusNet is replacing bare conductors with covered Aerial Bundled Conductor on high-fire-risk feeders. Selected sections are also being undergrounded in the Dandenong Ranges and Yarra Valley.
Marinus Link and Western Renewables Link
AusNet is building the Victorian end of Marinus Link (a new HVDC interconnector to Tasmania) and the Western Renewables Link from Bulgana to Sydenham. Both projects are part of AEMO's Integrated System Plan and aim to integrate new renewable generation while improving reliability.
Smart meters, automation and AusNet's mature digital network
Smart meters
Victoria mandated smart meters in 2006 and the rollout was completed by 2014, ahead of every other Australian state. AusNet detects outages at the customer level and confirms restoration automatically.
Self-healing network
Automated reclosers, sectionalisers and FLISR systems are deployed across the distribution network. They isolate faults within seconds, limiting the number of customers affected.
Community batteries and microgrids
AusNet is trialling community batteries and townwide microgrids in fire-vulnerable areas like Mallacoota in East Gippsland, where a microgrid was deployed after the 2019 to 2020 fires to maintain supply if the long feeder from the state grid fails.
Network monitoring
AusNet operates 24/7 control rooms that monitor distribution and transmission infrastructure across Victoria. The combined visibility lets AusNet coordinate distribution faults with transmission constraints during major events.
Outage map, app alerts and Victorian concessions
AusNet outage map
AusNet publishes a public outage map updated in near real time. Customers can check outage status by address or suburb and see estimated restoration times. The map is the primary tool used during storm and bushfire events.
Outage alerts and app
Customers can register for SMS, email or app alerts when an outage is reported at their address. Alerts include estimated restoration times and updates as crews progress.
Life support customers
Households relying on life-support equipment can register through their retailer to receive priority notifications of planned outages and prioritised restoration during unplanned events.
Victorian energy concessions
Eligible Victorians can apply for the Annual Electricity Concession, the Medical Cooling Concession, the Utility Relief Grant Scheme and the Power Saving Bonus, administered by the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing.
AusNet and the four other Victorian distributors
For a wider view of how Australia's three power grids are structured, see the Australian power outage page. AusNet covers eastern Victoria, but inner Melbourne is served by CitiPower, western Victoria by Powercor, south-east Melbourne by United Energy and north-west Melbourne by Jemena. When the power is restored but the internet is still down across eastern Victoria, the largest fixed-line provider is the NBN, and most customers buy retail broadband from Telstra, Optus or TPG.