Southbank substation explodes during copper theft attempt
Nov 2022Published 28 Sept 2026
What happened
On 17 November 2022, police said a man broke into a substation on Fawkner Street in Southbank and allegedly used a spanner to take copper worth about $1,000 from a power board, causing a large explosion. CCTV showed a flash of light and plumes of smoke. Police said the man walked out empty-handed and not seriously injured. A detective said no members of the public were injured. CitiPower said there was no disruption to supply and that the asset was being decommissioned.
Contributing factors
Police alleged that an attempt to remove copper from a power board inside the substation caused the explosion. The company said copper theft was a rising risk on electricity networks. Whether the equipment was still energised was not reported.
Lessons learned
- Secure substations, including those being decommissioned, against unauthorised entry, with barriers, alarms and surveillance.
- Treat attempted metal theft on electrical equipment as a serious safety risk to the offender, staff and the public.
- Keep a clear police liaison path where copper theft is increasing, so incidents can be reported quickly.
Published 2026-09-28. Written from public reporting. Descriptive, not investigative. See the data accuracy disclaimer.