The Victorian government warns the energy network must be more resilient after destructive winds tore down transmission towers and blew trees onto power lines, leaving almost 130,000 homes without electricity more than a day later and many facing a week without power or internet. Authorities believe 41 communities were isolated from public communications on Wednesday and unable to make emergency calls, while Ambulance Victoria had 39 branches without mains power.
and knocked out six transmission towers in Melbourne’s west on Tuesday, which Australian Energy Market Operator chief executive Daniel Westerman said sent “shockwaves through the system”.and an energy shortfall that led to the market shutting 90,000 customers off power to protect the grid. At the same time, up to 530,000 homes across the state were blacked out because of storm damage to local poles and wires. Asked about the resilience of the state’s power network on Wednesday, Victorian Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said the government initiated a review into the grid in 2021 after devastating storm