Got a Powercor defect notice? It means Powercor has found that part of the electrical installation on your property, the part you own, is unsafe or does not comply. Having it fixed is your responsibility, by the date written on the notice. Powercor does not do the repair.
What happens next is straightforward. You engage a licensed electrician who works for a registered electrical contractor. They repair the defect, issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety and send it to Powercor. If your supply was disconnected, Powercor reconnects it once the paperwork is in, and that reconnection is free.
- Who is responsible
- The property owner
- Who can fix it
- A registered electrical contractor (REC)
- Deadline
- The date written on your notice
- Reconnection by Powercor
- Free once the repair is certified
What a Powercor defect notice means
Powercor is the electricity distributor for Geelong, the Bellarine, the Surf Coast and Golden Plains. It owns the poles, wires and underground services that bring power to your property. Everything on your side of the point where its service line meets your installation belongs to you, and you are responsible for keeping it safe.
A defect notice is Powercor telling you that something on your side is unsafe or non-compliant. The notice names the defect and sets a date for the fix.
Two points catch people out. Powercor will not repair it for you, even though Powercor issued the notice. And you cannot repair it yourself: the work has to be done by a licensed electrician working for a registered electrical contractor.
The defects Powercor lists most often
Powercor's own guidance names these as common defects:
- Service hook missing or not secure. The hook, or point of attachment, is where the overhead service line is anchored to your house. On older homes the timber it is fixed to can rot or the bracket can pull loose.
- Fused mains box defective or not secure. This is the small box, usually high on the wall or under the eaves, where the service line connects to your wiring.
- Meter box defective. A missing door, broken hinges, or a box that is no longer weatherproof.
- Faulty or damaged switchboard.
- Vegetation. Trees or shrubs on your property growing near the service line, or blocking access to it.
If you have a private electric line, meaning poles and wires on your own land beyond the point where Powercor's network ends, the notice may relate to that line or its poles. Those are covered further down.
Talk to a licensed Geelong electrician (REC 30925).
What happens next: how a Powercor defect notice is cleared, step by step
- Read the notice. Note the defect listed, the date it gives, and whether your supply has been disconnected.
- Check for danger. If anything is sparking, hanging low or giving shocks, treat it as an emergency (see below) and do not wait for the date on the notice.
- Call a registered electrical contractor. Have the notice in front of you so you can read out exactly what it says.
- The electrician inspects and quotes. We look at the defect and anything connected to it, then tell you what has to be done.
- Anything Powercor needs is arranged. If the supply has to be isolated for the work, the contractor applies to Powercor for it. Powercor works by appointment.
- The repair is done and tested.
- Inspection, where the work requires it. Work on consumer mains, the main earthing system, supports for overhead service lines (including poles) and the main switchboard is prescribed work in Victoria, which means an independent licensed electrical inspector must inspect it. A like-for-like replacement of a single part, such as one fused mains box, does not need that inspection but is still certified.
- The certificate goes to Powercor. The electrician issues a Certificate of Electrical Safety and sends it to Powercor, and a compliance declaration is submitted.
- Powercor reconnects. If your supply was cut, Powercor restores it once the installation is certified as safe. Powercor does not charge for that reconnection.
Keep your copy of the certificate with the notice. It is your proof that the defect was fixed.
Who fixes what
| Item | Who is responsible | Who does the work |
|---|---|---|
| Poles, wires and underground services in the street | Powercor | Powercor. Report damage on 13 24 12. |
| The service line up to the point of supply | Powercor | Powercor |
| Service hook or point of attachment on your house | Property owner | Registered electrical contractor |
| Fused mains box | Property owner | Registered electrical contractor |
| Consumer mains (the cables from the supply point to your board) | Property owner | Registered electrical contractor, with independent inspection |
| Meter box, door and enclosure | Property owner | Registered electrical contractor |
| Switchboard | Property owner | Registered electrical contractor |
| Trees and shrubs on your land near the service line | Property owner | Arranged by the owner |
| Private electric line and private poles | Property owner | Registered electrical contractor only |
| Applications to Powercor for isolation or alterations | Lodged for you | Registered electrical contractor |
| Reconnection after the repair | Powercor | Powercor, at no charge |
| Your electricity account and billing | Your retailer | Your retailer |
In a rented home, pass the notice to the owner or property manager straight away, so they can book the repair.
How long you have, and whether the power can be cut
The date that applies to you is the one on your notice. Powercor's public information does not give a standard period that applies to every home, so do not rely on a figure you have read elsewhere or heard from a neighbour. If the notice is unclear, ask Powercor on 13 22 06 (general enquiries).
On disconnection, the position is plain. An unsafe installation may be disconnected, and supply is not restored until the installation is safe and a Certificate of Electrical Safety has been issued. Some notices arrive after the supply has already been cut for safety.
If Powercor has not disconnected you, the power stays on while you arrange the repair. The defect has still been flagged as unsafe or non-compliant, so keep people away from the affected part and book the work early. Repairs that need a Powercor appointment or an independent inspection take longer to organise than the repair itself.
Not sure what you need? Tell us what is happening and we will talk it through.
Private power lines and poles on rural and larger blocks
Rural and larger blocks around Golden Plains, the Bellarine and the edges of Geelong are often fed by a private electric line: poles and overhead wires on your own land. Powercor says it has more than 19,000 customers with private electric lines. It inspects them every three years, and defect notices often follow those inspections.
- The owner is responsible for the condition of a private line and for keeping vegetation clear of it.
- Only a registered electrical contractor may work on it.
- Undergrounding is sometimes compulsory. In a Hazardous Bushfire Risk Area, a private line that needs substantial reconstruction, meaning more than 20 per cent of its poles or spans repaired or replaced, must be placed underground unless an alternative applies. That is not a rule for every private line.
- Going underground involves Powercor. It means a new point of supply arranged with Powercor, possibly with an underground service pit.
Powercor's private electric line page sets out the owner's duties. We replace private poles, overhead mains and underground mains through our mains upgrades and Powercor defect repairs service.
When a defect is an emergency
Do not wait for the date on the notice if any of these apply.
- A line is down or hanging low. Treat it as live, keep well clear and call Powercor on 13 24 12. Call 000 if anyone is at risk.
- A tingle or shock from a tap, appliance or anything metal. Do not touch it again. Call Powercor on 13 24 12 immediately, then have a registered electrical contractor investigate.
- Sparking, smoke or burning at the fused mains box, meter box or switchboard. Never use water on an electrical fire. Get out and call 000.
- Lights flickering or dimming, or power to only part of the house. Do not touch the switchboard or anything metal, and call Powercor.
- The street has power but your house does not. Your own service equipment may be damaged. Call a licensed electrician.
CabledIN takes emergency calls around the clock. See our emergency electrician page or ring 1300 025 555.
What to do next
Have the notice handy and call us on 1300 025 555. We are a licensed Registered Electrical Contractor (REC 30925) based in North Geelong, so we can do the repair, lodge anything Powercor needs, arrange the inspection where one is required and send the certificate to Powercor for you.
Mains work is a regular part of what we do, from fused mains boxes on older homes in Newtown and Highton to underground mains on rural blocks. Our Powercor defect repairs page explains the service. If the notice names the meter box or switchboard, see switchboard upgrades as well.
Energy Safe Victoria advises having the wiring checked in any house more than 30 years old. If yours is, an electrical safety inspection on the same visit can pick up other problems before they turn into the next notice.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Powercor defect notice?
It is a notice from Powercor that part of your own electrical installation is unsafe or non-compliant. Fixing it is the property owner's responsibility, using a licensed electrician.
Who pays to fix a Powercor defect notice?
The property owner. Powercor does not repair equipment on the customer's side, such as the point of attachment, fused mains box, meter box or a private line. Powercor's reconnection after the repair is free.
How long do I have to fix a Powercor defect notice?
Until the date written on your notice. Powercor does not publish one standard period for every home, so go by your own notice and book the repair early.
Can Powercor disconnect my power over a defect?
Yes, an unsafe installation may be disconnected. Once the repair is certified and the paperwork reaches Powercor, the supply is reconnected free of charge.
Can any electrician fix a Powercor defect?
The work has to be done by a licensed electrician working for a registered electrical contractor, who then issues the Certificate of Electrical Safety and sends it to Powercor. You cannot do it yourself.
Can I still use my power before the defect is fixed?
If Powercor has not disconnected the supply, the power stays on. The defect has still been identified as unsafe or non-compliant, so keep clear of the affected equipment and arrange the repair promptly.
Do I have to put my private power line underground?
Only in some cases. In a Hazardous Bushfire Risk Area, a private line needing more than 20 per cent of its poles or spans repaired or replaced must go underground unless an alternative applies.
Still have a question? Ask the CabledIN team.