A powerline is down

What to do, in order

1. Keep everyone back, and don't touch anything the line is touching - fences, cars, trees or pools of water.
2. Low-hanging lines are just as dangerous: keep the same distance.
3. Report it to your electricity distributor with the exact location. Energy Safe Victoria asks you to tell the police too.
4. If a line falls on your car, stay inside and call 000.
5. Only leave the car if it's on fire: jump clear without touching the car and the ground at the same time, land with your feet together, and shuffle away at least 10 metres.
6. If poles or wires are in floodwater, stay at least 150 metres away.

Who to call

Electricity, gas and water faults go to whoever owns the network in your street, so only one of these regional numbers is yours. It is also printed on your bill. Find your electricity distributor by postcode.

• Triple Zero (000) 000

  Anyone is hurt or in danger, or a line is on a vehicle.

• CitiPower (electricity faults and emergencies) 13 12 80

  Report a power outage, a fallen or damaged powerline, dim or flickering lights, or tingles/shocks from taps or appliances.

  Covers: Melbourne's CBD and inner suburbs

• Powercor (electricity faults and emergencies) 13 24 12

  Report a power outage, a fallen or damaged powerline, dim or flickering lights, or tingles/shocks from taps or appliances.

  Covers: Melbourne's western suburbs, and central and western Victoria out to the SA and NSW borders

• Jemena (electricity faults and emergencies) 13 16 26

  Report a power outage, a fallen or damaged powerline, dim or flickering lights, or tingles/shocks from taps or appliances.

  Covers: North and western Melbourne

• United Energy (electricity faults and emergencies) 13 20 99

  Report a power outage, a fallen or damaged powerline, dim or flickering lights, or tingles/shocks from taps or appliances.

  Covers: Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs and the Mornington Peninsula

• AusNet (electricity faults and emergencies) 13 17 99

  Report a power outage, a fallen or damaged powerline, dim or flickering lights, or tingles/shocks from taps or appliances.

  Covers: Eastern and north-eastern Victoria, and Melbourne's north and east

When you need a electrician

The distributor makes its own network safe. If the line into your house (from the pole) or your switchboard was damaged, you need a licensed electrician to repair your side and send a Certificate of Electrical Safety before the power can be reconnected.