Mildura Power Outage

What do I need to keep food safe?

The most important thing is to try to keep cold and frozen food cold. If food is still cold to touch, less than 5°C, it is safe to use. If in doubt, throw it out.

Before and after a power failure

• Try to keep cold and frozen food cold. If food is still cold to touch, less than 5°C, it is safe to use.
• Once cold or frozen food is no longer cold to touch, 5°C or above, for more than four hours it must be thrown away.
• If power is restored when frozen food is still solid the food is safe to refreeze.

 Things I can do during a power failure

• Move food from the fridge to the freezer. Efficient freezers with door seals in good condition may maintain foods in a frozen state for between 1 and 2 and a half days.
• If available, put bagged ice under food packages and trays stored in freezers and fridges if power failure lasts more than one hour.
• Place an insulating blanket over cold or frozen food where possible.
• Only open fridge and freezer doors when absolutely necessary, this will keep the food and air temperature colder for longer.

If you are in doubt or unsure the safest option is to throw it out. 

Generators

Do not use appliances designed for outdoor use inside a home, basement, garage, caravan or tent.

Do not even use them outside near an open window. Appliances such as power generators, grills, camp stoves, or other devices that burn petrol, liquid petroleum gas, natural gas or charcoal should only be used as specified by the manufacturer.

Power generators

Portable power generators are very useful, but, if they are not used safely, they can lead to:

• carbon monoxide poisoning from the engine exhaust
• electric shock or electrocution
• fire.

Householders must follow the directions that were supplied with the generator to ensure safe operation.

Council will not provide generators to households.

Where and how do I dispose of food waste?

Please use your normal green bin. Please take off all packaging before putting food into the green bin.

If you cannot take the packaging off the food, please place packaged food into the rubbish bin.

If you can’t wait for your next collection day, you can bring your food waste to Mildura Landfill for free disposal. You will need to provide your address to have free disposal, and it will be for food waste only.

How do I get rid of the fridge or freezer?

You can bring your empty fridge/freezer to Mildura Landfill for free. They are recycled as white goods. Please ensure the fridge/freezer is empty, as we are not legally allowed to accept them if they are full of food or other items.

How do I dispose of electronic waste?

Any electronic items (that use a power cord) that have been damaged or destroyed due to the power outage will be eligible for free disposal at Mildura Landfill. Please keep these items separate from other waste as electronic waste cannot go to landfill and needs to be recycled. 

Powercor has a range of options and information available if your power supply has caused you loss or damage.

There is information on how to make a claim for compensation and Powercor’s dispute resolution process, including how to lodge a complaint by phone or online.

Visit Complaints and claims for compensation | CitiPower & Powercor

The Victorian Department of Health has a range of useful information to help residents deal with prolonged periods without electricity, including tips and information on:

• Heat and light without electricity
• Food storage without electricity
• Preparing food without electricity
• Washing and bathing without electricity
• Looking after your baby or young child without electricity.

Visit Emergencies - coping without gas or electricity | Better Health Channel

While power has now been restored to the vast majority of customers in Mildura, some homes have damaged electrical appliances as a result of the incident that will require a licensed electrician.

Residents affected by the recent power outage in Mildura will be eligible for an increased and fast-tracked Powercor payment of $380. 

The power outage was caused by a vehicle striking a power pole that led to a major power surge (known as a high-voltage injection).  

Given the disruption and inconvenience caused by this outage, Powercor has increased the payment amount for eligible customers from $90 to $380. 

Payments are automatically deducted from a customer's future electricity bill however Powercor is offering to bring forward this payment and pay eligible customers directly.  

Customers who don’t apply for the fast-tracked payment will ONLY receive a $90 payment as a credit in their next electricity bill.  

For more visit www.powercor.com.au/mildura