Mildura Power Outage Enters Third Day, Vulnerable Residents in Distress

A power outage in Mildura is set to enter its third day, with concerns growing for vulnerable residents, including the elderly, those reliant on medical devices, and domestic violence survivors.

The outage, which began on Monday at 6:30 am, has affected around 3,000 residents and businesses after a ute crashed into a critical power pole at nearby Birdwoodton. Electricity distributor Powercor has announced that the expected timeframe for restoring power to the majority of the network has been extended from Wednesday afternoon to midday Friday.

Concerns for vulnerable residents

Among those affected are 24 supported accommodation homes run by Sunraysia Residential Services (SRS), which provide housing for elderly and disabled individuals who rely on electricity for essential equipment and daily tasks. SRS CEO Marian Luehman expressed concerns about the impact of the outage on her clients.

"Prolonged periods without power can be distressing and isolating," she said. "Uncertainty around restoration timeframes can add further anxiety, particularly for those already facing health or personal challenges."

Luehman highlighted the need for strengthened emergency response arrangements to support vulnerable residents, including access to generators, alternative accommodation, transport assistance, and targeted welfare checks.

Anxiety for domestic violence survivors

For Sarah, a domestic violence survivor who wishes to remain anonymous, the outage has caused significant anxiety. Her home security cameras, which provide her with a sense of safety, are not operational during the outage.

"[Previously, the perpetrator] would park across the road. Some nights he would be standing in the shadows of a tree watching my house," Sarah said.
"[The cameras] alert me to any activity around the boundaries of my property and they give me a feeling of safety."

Victoria Police acknowledged the impact of the outage on domestic violence survivors and urged anyone feeling threatened to call Triple Zero immediately.

Police response and safety concerns

Mildura police Acting Inspector Daron Hulls encouraged residents to remain calm and check on their neighbors. While police have increased patrols in the affected area, they will not respond to alarms until power is restored.

"For security, we encourage [residents] to obviously manually lock their doors and their windows, especially if they've got automatic systems in place there," Acting Inspector Hulls said.
"[People] need to be aware of alarms because we won't respond to an alarm or a security system that's been triggered by power failures."

In the event of a break-in, Acting Inspector Hulls stated that victims would need to contact police and may be required to provide additional evidence.

Power restoration efforts

Powercor spokesperson Jodan Oliver said crews are prioritizing welfare checks for around 130 residents living with life support apparatuses. He described the outage as an "unusual one" and emphasized the need for residents to report any damage to their properties or appliances.

"The different circuits on that pole, one was very high voltage and we have low voltage as well, which connects people's homes," he said.
"We're checking with customers' properties whether [that high voltage] has entered into people's wiring, switchboards … and potentially caused damage."

A relief center has been set up at the Benetook Room of the Alfred Deakin Centre, providing information and support to affected residents.