A PESKY sky possum is to blame for widespread power outages in Ballarat on Friday morning.
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More than 3500 households and businesses lost power at 12.59am.
Residents in the Soldiers Hill area were the hardest hit, with about 1400 homes without power.
About 700 customers were also affected in Black Hill, 760 in Ballarat North, 630 in Invermay Park, 200 in Invermay, 96 in Ballarat Central and 86 in Bakery Hill.
Powercor spokesman Drew Douglas said response crews discovered a dead possum at the base of the power pole.
"He has made contact with the insulator and the power line and well...is now in a better place," Mr Douglas said.
"The line (affected) was the main line coming out of the substation and that's why all these customers were affected."
Street and traffic lights were also out across town.
Powercor restored power about 1.30am.