Ballarat Central traffic lights go out, customers left without power

Central Square is completely without power on one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

The entire shopping centre has been blocked off to foot traffic and is completely dark.

Myer remains open and the arcade still has power, but the remainder of the shopping centre appears closed to business.

The temperature in Ballarat has reached 39.8 degrees, as of 3.10pm.

According to the Powercor website, the estimated restoration time is 7pm, however a Central Square employee told The Courier they had been told by Powercor things would be up and running around 4.30pm.

A Powercor truck is on scene.

One shopper said it was frustrating as he hopes to finish his holiday shopping.

"I was hoping to get all my shopping done today," he laughed.

"It's a little frustrating but what can you do... I can imagine it's be frustrating for shop owners as well."

EARLIER:

A collection of Ballarat residents have lost the privilege of air conditioning as a Ballarat Central power outage has hit homes on one of the hottest December days on record.

Reports surfaced power had gone out at the intersection of Dana Street and Doveton Street South just after 2pm as traffic lights went blank, causing headaches for holiday commuters.

When The Courier traveled through the intersection, traffic was moving very slowly as no one was at the scene directing traffic.

According to the Powercor website, 59 customers in the area have been left without power.

Powercor has estimated the power restoration time at 7pm this evening.

The traffic lights at Doveton Street South and Erye Street were functioning.

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