The Victorian Government will provide $10 million in grants to install technology that can help stop electrical faults starting bushfires.

“Rapid earth fault current limiter” technology is used on high-voltage power lines to quickly reduce the flow of electricity to wires that fall to the ground or touch vegetation.

It can reduce the risk of fire from a fault by up to 60%, and also reduces power outages.

Businesses that require large amounts of electricity are connected directly to high-voltage distribution networks. There are more than 90 such sites around Victoria, which will be eligible for grants of up to $250,000 per site.

The state’s Essential Services Commission has amended the Electricity Distribution Code to make high-voltage customers responsible for protecting their equipment.