Australia: Unplanned power disruptions ongoing across Victoria State, as of evening of Feb. 13

According to official sources, unplanned power outages are affecting about 500,000 households across Victoria State, as of the evening of Feb. 13. Australia Energy Market Operator (Aemo) attributed the disruptions to electrical infrastructure damage caused by extreme heat, strong winds, and extensive lightning strikes. Officials are unable to provide a clear timeline for the resumption of services in the impacted areas but expect the disruptions to last several days.

Commercial and transport disruptions are possible. Businesses without backup generators may have to suspend operations. Traffic lights may not function, resulting in traffic disruptions, and public transport that relies on electricity may be affected. The outage may also prompt brief municipal water outages, telecommunication disruptions, and electronic water filtration systems interruptions. Lingering disruptions are possible after regular supply resumes. Blackouts could adversely affect security protocols, including alarm systems and electronic fences. Opportunistic criminal activity could increase during electricity outages.