The Powerline Replacement Fund (PRF) will see powerlines in the highest risk bushfire areas replaced with insulated overhead, underground powerlines or new conductor technologies.
Funding for the $200 million PRF is being directed in stages to priority areas identified in conjunction with the Emergency Management Commissioner, Energy Safe Victoria, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning and technical experts.
The Fund is directed at replacing both High Voltage and Private Overhead Electric Lines in highest priority Local Government Areas.
By June 2019, the PRF will have retired 192km of bare-wire Private Overhead Electric Lines on 797 private regional properties. The POEL funding is allocated to the following Local Government Areas:
| Alpine | Greater Bendigo | Murrindindi |
| Ararat | Greater Geelong | Nillumbik |
| Ballarat | Hepburn | Pyrenees |
| Baw Baw | Indigo | Surf Coast |
| Benalla | Loddon | South Gippsland |
| Campaspe | Macedon Ranges | Southern Grampians |
| Cardinia | Mount Alexander | Wangaratta |
| Colac-Otway | Mitchell | Wellington |
| Corangamite | Moorabool | Wodonga |
| East Gippsland | Moyne | Whittlesea |
| Golden Plains | Moira | Yarra Ranges |
In addition, the PRF is also retiring High Voltage lines and by December 2019, will have targeted nine areas across regional Victoria. These areas include: Chilton, Dandenongs, Healesville, Kinglake, Kyneton, Maldon, Otways, Warburton and Warrandyte.
By project completion, the PRF will have retired 555 km of single wire earth return or 22kV powerlines, representing a total of 65 powerline infrastructure projects.
Applications Now Closed
The Private Overhead Electric Line scheme is now closed and the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning is not accepting any new applications.
Videos
Powerline Replacement at Grassmere
Watch this timelapse video showing the replacement of bare-wire powerlines in Grassmere, Victoria as one of the many replacement projects to safeguard regional communities against powerlines starting bushfires.
Private Overhead Electrical Line
See the complex works in action, replacing a private overhead electrical line in Seymour, Victoria including the removal of volcanic rock, crossing a riverbed and observing a heritage building.
See the Private Overhead Electrical Line transcript
High Voltage Line - working to make communities safer
Experience the replacement of high voltages powerlines in the Victorian Otway Ranges with aerial views showing what works look like from all angles.
Page last updated: 22/11/19