Thousands of homes and businesses around Mildura in north-west Victoria are dealing with an extended power outage after a vehicle crashed into a power pole at Birdwoodton. The incident occurred at about 6:30am on Monday, 21 September, and caused significant damage to the local electricity network. A woman involved in the crash was taken to Mildura Hospital.

The outage initially affected more than 3,360 homes and businesses across Mildura and surrounding areas. The crash damaged a major electricity feeder supplying parts of Mildura, creating widespread disruption for residents, businesses and other services.

By Tuesday, 22 September, a relief station had been established at the Alfred Deakin Centre's Benetook Room to support residents who were still without electricity. The centre is providing facilities including Wi-Fi and device charging, giving affected residents a place to stay connected while repair work continues.

Powercor has warned that restoring electricity could take several days because additional safety inspections are required. The damage has created a complicated fault, and licensed electrical inspectors may need to visit affected properties before power can safely be restored. Residents may need to provide access to electricity meters so the necessary checks can be completed.

The outage has also affected local businesses. Some shops at Mildura Central shopping centre, including Woolworths and Bakers Delight, have reopened, providing residents with access to essential supplies despite the continuing electricity problems.

The crash also triggered a number of automatic fire alarms across Mildura and surrounding areas when the electricity system experienced a power surge. Emergency services attended the original crash, while electricity crews began assessing the damaged network.

Powercor spokesperson Jordan Oliver said crews would continue working through the week, carrying out damage assessments and safety checks before electricity could be progressively restored. The company has warned residents that the restoration process may take longer than initially expected because of the nature of the electrical fault.

For residents, the extended outage is creating challenges with communications, refrigeration, household appliances and access to essential services. The relief centre provides an important temporary support point for people who need internet access or a place to charge phones and other devices.

The incident demonstrates how a single vehicle collision with critical electricity infrastructure can affect a large part of a regional city. While repair crews continue working, residents are being encouraged to stay informed through official updates and make use of available community support.