Blackout Payments Expanded After Second Victorian Storm

The payments, jointly funded by the state and federal governments, were only available to customers without power for at least seven consecutive days.

People look for cover from the hail storm in Melbourne, Australia, on March 6, 2010. Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

More Victorians will be able to claim compensation for spending a week without power after a second storm hit the state.

Prolonged power outage payments of $1,920 (US$1,258) a week for households and $2,927 (US$1,917) a week for businesses were rolled out after storms swept through Victoria on Feb. 13, disconnecting electricity to 530,000 properties at one point.