More than 13,000 customers across Warrnambool, Allansford, Nullawarre, Bushfield, Purnim and Mepunga were affected when the Warrnambool zone substation at Jamieson Street went off line at 3.45pm. 

Work crews removed a dead crow from the substation and services were restored at about 4.15pm. 

Businesses took to social media to advise customers they had been forced to closed for the day.

Police officers were directing traffic at major intersections as traffic lights went out.