Energex, the network behind south-east Queensland's power
Energex is the electricity distribution network for south-east Queensland, the fastest-growing region in Australia. It delivers power to around 1.5 million customers across 25,500 square kilometres, from Brisbane and the Gold Coast to the Sunshine Coast and out to Ipswich, Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley. The Energex outage map is the tool most customers check first when the power goes out in Brisbane, Logan, Redland, Moreton Bay or the Gold Coast hinterland.
- The size of the Energex network and the regions it covers
- Why outages happen on the Energex grid and the role of summer storms
- The investments and technologies Energex uses to restore power faster
- The customer-facing outage map, alerts and concessions
A high-density network in a storm-prone subtropical region
Energex is owned by Energy Queensland, a Queensland Government-owned corporation that also owns Ergon Energy. The two networks operate separately but share a common owner and common technology platforms.
Key figures for the Energex electric network:
- Around 1.5 million customer connections.
- About 3.7 million people served across south-east Queensland.
- 25,500 square kilometres of service area, the most densely populated distribution territory in Australia.
- Roughly 53,000 kilometres of overhead and underground powerlines.
- More than 720,000 power poles.
The network covers the local government areas of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Logan, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redland, Lockyer Valley, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Noosa and Toowoomba.
Why summer storms drive most outages on the Energex grid
Outages on the Energex system fall into a few well-defined categories. The mix is dominated by the region's subtropical climate.
Severe summer storms
The single biggest cause of unplanned outages. South-east Queensland is one of the most thunderstorm-prone regions in Australia, with intense convective storms between October and March that bring lightning, hail, heavy rain and damaging winds. The Christmas Day 2023 storms left more than 200,000 Energex customers without power, the largest weather event on the network in over a decade.
Ex-tropical cyclones
Cyclones rarely cross the coast in south-east Queensland, but ex-cyclones tracking south from north Queensland or forming off the NSW coast can bring damaging winds and flooding. Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025 caused widespread damage across the Gold Coast and Brisbane network.
Vegetation
Trees and branches falling on lines remain a major cause of unplanned outages, particularly in the leafy suburbs of Brisbane and the heavily forested Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hinterlands. Energex runs an ongoing vegetation management programme with annual inspections of trees near powerlines.
Equipment failure
The Brisbane network includes a large stock of underground cables in the CBD and overhead infrastructure dating back to the 1960s in some inner suburbs. Equipment failures rise during prolonged heat events that stress transformers and switchgear.
Wildlife
Possums, flying foxes and cockatoos contacting overhead lines and transformers cause hundreds of small outages per year across the network.
Investing in a network built for storms and heat
Energex spends around $700 to $800 million per year on capital works under its five-yearly regulatory determination set by the AER. The current 2025 to 2030 determination prioritises three areas.
Energex capital plan, 2025 to 2030
- Investment programme of around $4.7 billion over five years for the combined Energy Queensland network (Energex and Ergon).
- Around 40% of the spend dedicated to network replacement and resilience works.
- Significant uplift in storm and cyclone hardening following the December 2023 and March 2025 events.
Storm and cyclone hardening
Following the 2023 and 2025 storm events, Energex has accelerated investment in stronger pole construction, undergrounding in vulnerable sections, and asset reinforcement in coastal areas. New construction standards apply concrete and steel poles in high-risk locations.
Vegetation management
Energex inspects and clears vegetation around more than 50,000 kilometres of powerlines each year, with priority given to bushfire-prone areas in the Scenic Rim, Sunshine Coast hinterland and Lockyer Valley.
Network replacement
The network is replacing ageing transformers, switchgear and overhead conductors in inner-Brisbane suburbs where assets are reaching the end of their service life.
Self-healing technology and smart meters across south-east Queensland
Energex has been one of the more active Australian networks in deploying automation and digital tools.
Self-healing network
Energex has installed automated switches and reclosers across most of the high-density suburban network. When a fault occurs, these devices isolate the damaged section and reroute power around it within seconds. A typical neighbourhood outage that would once have lasted an hour can now be limited to a few streets for a few minutes.
Smart meters
The Queensland Government supports the national smart-meter rollout target of 2030. Energex is replacing legacy meters as they reach end of life, with around 700,000 smart meters now installed across the network. Smart meters let Energex detect outages at the address level without waiting for customer phone calls.
Network monitoring
Energex operates 24/7 control centres in Brisbane that monitor every substation and major feeder on the network. Real-time data from sensors and SCADA systems feed into the outage management system, which dispatches crews and updates the public outage map.
Battery and solar integration
South-east Queensland has one of the highest rooftop solar penetration rates in the world, with more than 40% of homes in the Energex footprint hosting solar panels. The network is upgrading transformers and voltage management equipment to handle reverse power flows on sunny days, and is integrating home batteries through new dynamic operating envelopes.
The Energex outage map and customer services
Energex outage map
Energex publishes a public outage map updated in near real time. Customers can check the status of an outage by address or suburb, see estimated restoration times and the number of customers affected. The Energex outage map is the primary tool used during storm events.
Outage alerts
Customers can register for SMS or email alerts when an outage is reported at their address. Alerts include estimated restoration times and updates as crews progress. Registration is free through the Energex website.
Mobile app
The Energex Power Outage Finder app gives mobile access to the outage map, lets customers report a power outage at their address, and pushes proactive notifications when service is interrupted in their suburb.
Life support customers
Households relying on life-support equipment can register with their retailer for priority notifications of planned outages and prioritised restoration during unplanned events. Energex coordinates with retailers to maintain an up-to-date register.
Queensland Electricity Rebate
Eligible pensioners, seniors and Health Care Card holders can apply for the Queensland Electricity Rebate, administered by the state government. The rebate is applied directly to the electricity bill issued by the customer's retailer.
Energex, Ergon and the broader Queensland network
For a wider view of how Australia's three power grids are structured and how outages are managed across the country, see the Australian power outage page. For the rest of Queensland outside Energex's south-east footprint, the distribution network is Ergon Energy. When the power is restored but the internet is still down across south-east Queensland, the largest fixed-line provider is the NBN, and most customers buy retail broadband from Telstra, Optus or TPG.