Who owns the power pole in my street?

Most overhead power poles and wiring are owned by licensed electricity distributors rather than the council; contact the distributor listed for your area or Energy Safe Victoria for confirmation.

Do I need to fill in a council form to report a hazardous pole?

No — you should contact the electricity distributor or Energy Safe Victoria; the City of Melbourne report page can also be used if the hazard affects council assets or public spaces.

What if the distributor does not fix the hazard?

If a distributor fails to respond appropriately, escalate the matter to Energy Safe Victoria using their incident report process; keep records of the original report and any correspondence.

Report Unsafe Power Poles & Wiring in Melbourne

Utilities and Infrastructure Victoria 4 Minutes Read · published February 11, 2026

If you spot a damaged power pole, exposed or sparking wiring, or fallen overhead conductors in Melbourne, Victoria act quickly — these are public-safety hazards. Electricity infrastructure is usually owned and maintained by licensed distributors while electrical safety and enforcement fall to Energy Safe Victoria and authorised officers. This guide explains who enforces electrical safety, how to report hazards, what penalties may apply, and the practical steps to protect people and property in Melbourne streets. It also shows the official complaint pages and forms to use so you can escalate urgent faults without delay.

Penalties & Enforcement

Who enforces electrical safety for poles and wiring in Melbourne, and what sanctions apply:

Enforcers: Energy Safe Victoria and licensed distribution companies (local distributor and authorised officers) are responsible for electrical safety and incident response; see the regulator for reporting options Energy Safe Victoria - Report an electrical incident^[1].
Distributor response: local electricity distributors operate emergency and hazard hotlines for immediate risks; contact your distributor (for inner Melbourne this often includes CitiPower/Powercor) for urgent repairs and isolation CitiPower/Powercor - Report a hazard^[2].
Fine amounts: not specified on the cited page for summary municipal penalties; specific penalty amounts under state electrical safety legislation are not detailed on the distributor or regulator summary pages and must be checked in the Electricity Safety Act or official enforcement notices.
Escalation: first, urgent hazards are addressed by distributor crews; repeated or systemic breaches may be investigated by Energy Safe Victoria and could lead to enforcement notices or court action — escalation details and monetary ranges are not specified on the cited regulator/distributor report pages.
Non-monetary sanctions: authorised officers may issue remedial or prohibition notices, require rectification works, or refer matters for prosecution; the distributor or regulator pages describe notice powers but do not list all possible orders on the report pages.
Appeals and reviews: appeal routes (for example to VCAT or as set out under the relevant Act) and time limits are governed by the underlying legislation or the notice itself; time limits are not specified on the distributor/regulator reporting pages.

If there is immediate danger, keep clear and call emergency services first.

Applications & Forms

Reporting an unsafe pole or wiring usually uses an online report or emergency phone line provided by the distribution company or Energy Safe Victoria; formal permit forms are not generally required from the public to report a hazard. Distributor and regulator pages provide online report forms and hotline numbers for urgent vs non-urgent reports.

Use the distributor emergency contact for immediate live-wire risks and the regulator form for unresolved or systemic safety concerns.

How to Report an Unsafe Pole or Wiring

Immediate hazards should be reported to emergency services and the electricity distributor; non-urgent hazards can be reported to the distributor and Energy Safe Victoria for follow-up. For City of Melbourne public-asset issues you can also use the council report-a-problem service City of Melbourne - Report a problem^[3].

When to report: report immediately if wires are down, arcing, or if someone is injured; otherwise report as soon as possible.
Emergency steps: call 000 for life‑threatening danger, keep a safe distance, and warn others.
What to include: exact location, visible damage, presence of fire, injured people, and any identifying pole numbers or nearby landmarks.
Follow-up: request an incident reference number and contact details for further enquiries.

Do not touch fallen wires or anything in contact with them.

FAQ

Who owns the power pole in my street?: Most overhead power poles and wiring are owned by licensed electricity distributors rather than the council; contact the distributor listed for your area or Energy Safe Victoria for confirmation.
Do I need to fill in a council form to report a hazardous pole?: No — you should contact the electricity distributor or Energy Safe Victoria; the City of Melbourne report page can also be used if the hazard affects council assets or public spaces.
What if the distributor does not fix the hazard?: If a distributor fails to respond appropriately, escalate the matter to Energy Safe Victoria using their incident report process; keep records of the original report and any correspondence.

How-To

Assess safety from a distance and call 000 if anyone is at risk or wires are sparking.
Call the local electricity distributor emergency number or use their online hazard report form; provide location and details.
If the distributor response is insufficient, submit an incident report to Energy Safe Victoria via their official incident page.
Record the incident reference numbers and any photos (only from a safe distance) and follow up with the City of Melbourne if the pole is on council-managed land.

Keep clear records of all reports and reference numbers for follow-up.

Key Takeaways

Immediate danger: call 000 and stay well clear.
Report hazards to your distributor first, then Energy Safe Victoria if unresolved.