Torquay at a glance
Growth in waves
The Church Estate came in the 1960s, Jan Juc in the 1970s and new estates north of town after the 1980s. Ocean Views was developed from 2000, and The Sands from 2001 on the old tip site.
A network catching up
Powercor's plan for 2021 to 2026 included a new zone substation in Torquay to support connection growth and improve reliability.
A summer town
Torquay's population usually triples between January and the end of February. 20.9% of dwellings were unoccupied on census night in 2021.
Mostly houses
90.6% of occupied homes were separate houses, 42.7% had a mortgage and 21.3% were rented.
Storms
The Surf Coast was among the municipalities most impacted by the 2021 storms, when over 526,000 Victorian households lost power.
What modern Torquay homes ask for
Solar that can export. Since October 2024, new solar on Powercor's network needs a Clean Energy Council approved inverter that supports CSIP-AUS. Eligible homes on a 0 kW pre-approved limit can use flexible exports to send up to 10 kW when the network has room, as long as they have reliable internet.
EV chargers. Solar Victoria's advice is that while any electrician may fit an EV charger, one who has done plenty of them is the better pick. If the house needs more supply, such as going from single to three phase, only a registered electrical contractor can apply to Powercor, through its eConnect portal.
Holiday lets. Smoke alarms, safety switches and outdoor lighting, checked before January when the town fills.
Questions for a solar or charger installer
- Is the inverter CSIP-AUS compatible and Clean Energy Council approved?
- Will you handle any supply change with Powercor through eConnect?
- Is this prescribed work that has to be inspected before it's switched on?
- When will I get the Certificate of Electrical Safety?
If we were building in Torquay
We'd plan the solar, battery and charger together with the electrician before buying any of them, and make sure the switchboard has room for all three. Doing it as one design means fewer visits and nothing squeezed in later.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.