What sets the valley apart
Mostly owner-occupied houses
At the 2021 Census the Shire of Yarra Ranges had 156,068 people. 48.2% of homes were owned with a mortgage, 35.1% owned outright and only 14.0% rented.
Fire country
On Black Saturday, 7 February 2009, fire surrounded Yarra Glen on three sides and moved through Kinglake, Steels Creek, Dixons Creek and Chum Creek.
Bushfire protection on the network
AusNet finished fitting REFCLs, substation devices that limit a powerline fault so it can't start a fire, at all 22 of its required zone substations by November 2023, with Lilydale and Woori Yallock among the earlier ones. It announced more REFCL work in the Lilydale area in 2025.
Storms
The June 2021 storms brought trees down across Lilydale, Silvan, Mount Evelyn and Montrose, and in AusNet's long August 2024 weather event the Yarra Ranges was among the hardest hit areas.
Old lines replaced
AusNet has replaced bare high voltage lines in parts of the Dandenong Ranges and Upper Yarra Valley to cut interference from trees and animals.
Electrical jobs that come up in the valley
Sheds, pumps and outbuildings. Power run out to a shed, a water pump or a farm building is often longer and more exposed than the wiring in the house. It's worth having it tested, and it should be on a safety switch.
Private poles and lines. Some rural properties have their own poles and overhead lines between the network's connection point and the house. Our guide to private power poles explains what that means for you.
Outage and surge damage. Long outages and storms can take out appliances, pumps and gate motors. An electrician can check what's damaged and talk you through surge protection at the board.
Inspections before you buy. For an older farmhouse or weekender, a pre-purchase electrical inspection is the simplest way to know what you're taking on.
Our take for the Yarra Valley
If you're outside the main towns, we'd have the wiring to every outbuilding tested and put on safety switches, and keep a written list of what's on each circuit. When the power comes back after a long outage, you'll know exactly what to check first.
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.