𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝘼𝙪𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙖!🥇 And while it’s not as cold as the Cortina ski slopes in Victoria right now, it is a great time to make sure you’re still on your best energy offer and save money. On average, people who used the Victorian Energy Compare website across 2025 were able to save $170 by switching to a better offer. Visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au

Victoria has exceeded its 2025 renewable energy target, marking a major milestone in the transition to cleaner, reliable and affordable electricity. Renewables delivered 44.6% of Victoria’s electricity generation last year, beating the 40% target and cementing Victoria’s position as the national leader in renewable energy. To learn more about our plan, visit energy.vic.gov.au/renewable-…

𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 $𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐏𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐬 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝟑𝟏 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 ⏳️⚡ Eligible concession card households can claim the $100 payment by applying online at the Victorian Energy Compare website or get help to apply in-person or over-the-phone. One payment is available per household for eligible concession card holders, including: 💳Health Care card 💳Pensioner Concession card 💳Veterans’ Affairs Pensioner Concession card 💳Veterans’ Affairs Gold card Visit compare.energy.vic.gov.au to apply online. Or go to compare.energy.vic.gov.au/ps… for more information on support available.

Upgrading or renovating? Opt for an energy-efficient appliance to reduce your energy use and boost your savings.  Through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, you could be eligible for big discounts on popular home appliances like a reverse cycle air conditioner, induction cooktop, hot water system, and more. Interested? See the full range of products here: energy.vic.gov.au/victorian-…

A range of recovery supports are available for people and communities affected by the Victorian bushfires. To find out more, visit vic.gov.au/january-2026-vict…

If you’re looking for a way to help people and communities affected by the recent Victorian bushfires, you can now donate through the 2026 Victorian Bushfire Appeal announced by the Victorian Government. Donations may go towards: • immediate assistance, relief and delivery of services to support individuals and their communities • community identified projects • programs to regenerate natural environment and wildlife. The Victorian Emergency Relief and Recovery Foundation (VERFF) is an independent charitable trust, with 100% of all funds raised going directly to those in need. Learn more and donate now at: vic.gov.au/2026-Victorian-Bu…

Power crews are continuing to work to reconnect power to Victorian communities impacted by fires, with most of outages having been significantly reduced since Friday. Thank you again to the crews working to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible, as well as the CFA and other emergency agencies providing support. As of 5pm, there are approximately 5,000 customers off power statewide in fire affected areas. Residents near some of the most fire-affected and difficult-to-access areas should be aware that it could take some time to re-power their homes. Please only return home when told it is safe to do so by authorities. Customers can also check the following trackers for updates on outages and restoration timelines: • AusNet: ausnetservices.com.au/outage… or call the AusNet Bushfire Support Line on 1300 561 171 • CitiPower and Powercor Australia: powercor.com.au/outages or call 13 24 12 Emergency relief centres are open to support those affected – please see the latest details at emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/… Active relief centres are located at: • Benalla Relief Centre, Town Hall 82-86 Nunn Street, Benalla • Colac Showgrounds. Enter via the Bruce Street entrance • Mansfield Sporting Complex, 35 Highett Street, Mansfield • Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre (Chittick Park), Pollard Street, Seymour • Whittlesea Community Centre, 57-61 Laurel St, Whittlesea • Wodonga Exhibition Centre at Wodonga Racecourse AusNet and Powercor have mobile emergency assistance vehicles that can help people charge their devices, access the internet to check in with family and friends, and provide information and support. To find out how you can stay safe during a power outage, visit energy.vic.gov.au/.../stayin…... or phone 136 186. For information about the safe use of electrical and gas appliances following bushfires, go to energysafe.vic.gov.au/commun… To download the VicEmergency app, go to emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare…...

Power crews have made substantial progress in reconnecting power to communities impacted by fires across the State with the vast majority of customers now having their power restored. As of 6pm, there are now 5,522 customers off power statewide - with 3,678 in AusNet Services’ distribution area and 1,828 in Powercor’s distribution area. On Friday at the peak, more than 98,000 customers were off line. The remaining properties off power are in some of the most fire-affected and difficult-to-access areas, with fire damage to hundreds of power poles and lines. Depending upon access, this process to re-power individual homes could take some time and customers should check the following trackers for updates on outages and restoration timelines: • @AusNetServices: ausnetservices.com.au/outage… or call the AusNet Bushfire Support Line on 1300 561 171 • @PowercorAust: powercor.com.au/outages or call 13 24 12 AusNet crews are continuing to assess damage in challenging geographies impacted by the Longwood, Walwa and Dargo fires. The majority of customers off power in Yea were re-energised this afternoon, and AusNet is now working to deploy generators in those communities where mains power may take longer to be restored, with a generator aiming to be providing power in Corryong tonight. Powercor crews are making good progress connecting power to communities impacted by the Cobden, Streatham/Skipton and Natimuk fires. In Harcourt, further assessments took place today, with works to restore some customers in Harcourt to start tomorrow. Emergency relief centres with power, showers and wifi are available for those affected – please see the latest details at emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/… AusNet and Powercor have mobile emergency assistance vehicles that can help people charge their devices, access the internet to check in with family and friends, and provide information and support. Tomorrow, Powercor’s relief trucks will be at the Castlemaine and Skipton relief centres. Stay tuned to Powercor and AusNet’s social media channels for updated vehicle locations and updates on restoration. To find out how you can stay safe during a power outage, visit energy.vic.gov.au/about-ener… or phone 136 186. For safety information about what to do when you return home, go to energysafe.vic.gov.au/commun… To download the @vicemergency app, go to emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare…

Yesterday’s extreme heat and fire activity resulted in localised power outages across Victoria, with numbers peaking at almost 100,000. As of 5pm today, that number has reduced to almost 18,400 customers that are still without power. A number of these outages have occurred around the impacted bushfire areas, with crews working around the clock to assess new and existing outages and restoring power when they can safely access the area. A huge thank you to the crews working tirelessly to restore power as quickly and as safely as possible to affected customers. Customers in fire impacted areas should also be prepared that they may be without power for an extended period until repairs take place. Emergency relief centres are available for those affected – please check the VicEmergency website for the nearest centre to you - emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/… AusNet’s Emergency Management Mobile Assistance vehicles (EMMAs) and Powercor’s emergency response vehicles (VERA and MERV) are on standby and ready to be deployed, coordinating with Regional Control Teams to identify towns where additional support is needed. The vehicles are currently located at: • Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre, Pollard Street, Seymour (AusNet) • VERA - Bendigo relief centre (Powercor) • MERV - Natimuk Recreation Reserve – (Powercor) Stay tuned to AusNet and Powercor’s social media channels for updated vehicle locations. To find out how you can stay safe during a power outage, visit  energy.vic.gov.au/safety/pow… or phone 136 186. To download the VicEmergency app, go to emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare…

Today’s extreme heat and fire activity has resulted in localised power outages across Victoria. As of 6pm, more than 89,000 customers are without power. This is either due to extreme heat and weather impacting power infrastructure, powerline safety features that turn off power to avoid sparking fires, or the impacts of active bushfires. The Australian Energy Market Operator has advised that there is more than sufficient power supply for the state. Strong winds today have also resulted in fallen powerlines. Stay well clear of fallen powerlines or anything they may be touching. Call your electricity distributor or the faults and emergencies number on your most recent electricity bill. Additional distribution business resources are currently being deployed to areas with power outages, and crews are actively working to determine the cause of the fault, ensuring it is safe for the community before switching power back on. It is anticipated that the vast majority of these outages will not be long-term. Please check the following trackers for updates on outages and restoration timelines. • Powercor: powercor.com.au/outages • AusNet: ausnetservices.com.au/outage… • CitiPower / Powercor: powercor.com.au/outages • United Energy: unitedenergy.com.au/outage-m… • Jemena: poweroutages.jemena.com.au/ We understand that being without power in this extreme heat is very challenging. If you are without power, here are some things you can do:   • Wear loose-fitting clothing and stay hydrated.   • Keep doors and windows closed to keep cool air in.   • Consider placing towels under doors to block hot air draughts.   • Close curtains to keep cool air in and hot air out - use blackout or heat blocking curtains if you can.   • Wait until the temperature drops (usually in the early morning or evening) before opening doors and windows. This will move cool air into your home and trap it if there's hotter days ahead   • If safe to do so, consider visiting a relative or friend who may have access to power and air conditioning.   Emergency relief centres for persons impacted by active fire zones are available at the Seymour Sports and Aquatics Centre, the Mansfield Sporting Complex, the Upper Murray Event Centre at the Corryong Football Oval, the Tallangatta Memorial Hall, and the Horsham Senior Citizens Centre. To find out how you can prepare for power outages, visit energy.vic.gov.au/safety/pow… or phone 136 186. To download the VicEmergency app, go to Prepare and Get Ready - VicEmergency

Forests and national parks in Wimmera, North Central, Northern Country and South West districts are closed today due to the Catastrophic Fire Danger rating. A Catastrophic Fire Danger rating signals the worst possible grass and bushfire conditions. You must not enter or stay in a state forest or national park. Closed parks and forests may not have physical barriers to entry. Do not enter parks and forests. Leave for a safe area. Find the latest information via emergency.vic.gov.au or the @VicEmergency app.

With extreme or catastrophic fire danger warnings in place across Victoria tomorrow, and the risk of gusty, damaging winds, there is an increased risk of localised power outages. Given tomorrow’s extreme heat, consider how you would keep cool without power. Find out how to prepare for power outages - and what to do if you are experiencing an outage at energy.vic.gov.au/about-ener… or call 136 186.

𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 – 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 - 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐭𝐨𝐩 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐬𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐩𝐬 ☀️ ✅ Set your AC between 23-26 degrees and use eco mode. ✅ If you have solar power, cool your house and run your major appliances during the day. ✅Only cool the rooms you need and shut doors to rooms you are not using. ✅ Keep blinds and curtains closed during the heat of the day - especially on north/west-facing windows - to stop heat from entering. ✅ Turn off your AC and open windows and doors on the opposite sides of the house when the temperature drops to let cooler air flow through. For more energy savings tips, visit 👉 energy.vic.gov.au/households…

With damaging and potentially destructive winds expected over parts of Victoria throughout tomorrow, there is a risk of localised power outages.   Locations likely to be most affected by the severe weather include: - Echuca - North East Victoria, including Wangaratta and Wodonga Find out how to prepare for power outages – and what to do if you are experiencing an outage energy.vic.gov.au/about-ener… or call 136 186.

Hot water systems make up 18-36% of Victorian businesses and households’ energy bills. Upgrading an inefficient hot water system can save you thousands of dollars on your energy bills and reduce your upfront expenses.  Victorian Energy Upgrades hot water discounts:  💧 Install an electric-boosted solar water heater for a discount of up to $910*, plus reduced energy bills.  💧 Or a heat pump hot water heater for a discount of up to $700*, plus reduced energy bills. *Indicative discounts only. Applies to eligible products and participants.  Learn more about energy-efficient hot water systems here: energy.vic.gov.au/victorian-…

Registered Community Housing Organisations in Victoria can now apply for grants up to $18,000 per property to undertake energy efficiency upgrades and deliver all-electric homes for their renters. The new Community Housing Upgrades funding stream will help social housing renters to lower energy bills and enjoy a more healthy, comfortable home year-round. For more information on funding available under the Victorian Government’s Energy Efficiency in Social Housing Program visit 👉 energy.vic.gov.au/grants/ene…

As the weather warms up and the festive season expenses start to roll in, now’s a great time to check you’re still on the best energy offer and save money. Our free and independent Victorian Energy Compare website helps you compare electricity offers, gas and solar savings. On average, people who used the website across 2024 were able to save $240 by switching to their best priced energy offers. 👉 compare.energy.vic.gov.au

Electrify your business to reduce your energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.  By upgrading to energy-efficient products through the Victorian Energy Upgrades program, you can lower your energy costs while helping the environment. Save up to $74,000 per year when you make the switch! Find out more here: energy.vic.gov.au/victorian-…

We're starting to develop standalone industrial hemp legislation, and we want to hear from you! 🫵 Hemp is a sustainable option for products like housing construction materials, packaging and textiles. Have your say on how standalone legislation can support the growth of Victoria’s industrial hemp industry. The consultation is open until Monday 1 December 2025 via 🔗 engage.vic.gov.au/hemp

If you’re a business owner or worker, you could receive big discounts on energy-efficient products and services under the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) program.  Join more than 180,000 businesses and make the switch to electric to cut your energy bills and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.     From heating and cooling to commercial lighting, you can find energy-efficient upgrades that align with all your operational needs here:  energy.vic.gov.au/businesses…