Keep your distance
Electricity from a fallen line can travel through the ground, fences, water and anything touching the wire. Essential Energy advises staying at least eight metres from a powerline on the ground, anything in contact with it, or a low-hanging line. The Queensland Government advises bystanders to keep at least ten metres away.
If a line falls on your vehicle
Stay in the car, call 000 and wait for help. Only get out if there is a fire: jump clear without touching the car and the ground at the same time, land with your feet together and shuffle away with small steps.
Who to call about a fallen powerline
| Network | Area | Call |
|---|---|---|
| Ausgrid | Sydney, the Central Coast and the Hunter | 13 13 88 |
| Endeavour Energy | Greater Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains, the Southern Highlands, the Illawarra and the NSW South Coast | 131 003 |
| Essential Energy | Regional and rural NSW, with parts of southern Queensland | 13 20 80 |
| Energex | South-east Queensland | 13 19 62 |
| Ergon Energy Network | Regional Queensland, outside the south-east | 13 16 70 |
| SA Power Networks | All of South Australia's grid-connected homes and businesses | 13 13 66 |
| CitiPower | Melbourne's CBD and inner suburbs | 13 12 80 |
| Powercor | Melbourne's western suburbs and western and central Victoria | 13 24 12 |
| United Energy | Melbourne's south-east and the Mornington Peninsula | 132 099 |
| AusNet | Melbourne's outer east and north, and eastern and north-eastern Victoria | 13 17 99 |
| Jemena | Melbourne's north-west | 131 626 |
| Evoenergy | The Australian Capital Territory | 13 10 93 |
| TasNetworks | All of Tasmania | 132 004 |
| Western Power | Perth and the south-west of Western Australia | 13 13 51 |
| Horizon Power | Regional and remote Western Australia outside the south-west | 13 23 51 |
| Power and Water Corporation | The Northern Territory's regulated networks | 1800 245 090 |
After a storm
- Check for fallen lines before you go outside, and keep children and pets in.
- Do not touch fences, gutters or trees that might be in contact with a line.
- Never drive over a fallen line or through floodwater with lines down.
- Report damaged poles, hanging wires or sparking equipment, even if your power is on.
Common questions
At least 8 metres, according to Essential Energy and other NSW networks. Queensland advises at least 10 metres. Also stay clear of anything touching the line, such as fences, trees or water.
Stay inside, call 000 and wait for help. Only leave if there is a fire, by jumping clear with feet together without touching the car and ground at the same time, then shuffling away.
Call 000 if anyone is in danger. Then call your network's emergency or faults line. In Queensland, Energex and Ergon have dedicated fallen powerline numbers.
Sources
Every rate on this page comes from the regulator or the regulated retailer. Last checked October 2026. Prices include GST unless we say otherwise.