Australian inventors have developed technology that detects potential power line faults, like the one that sparked a deadly Black Saturday bushfire, before they happen.

Created by researchers at RMIT University, Early Fault Detection (EFD) has been trialled in Australia and overseas in a bid to prevent a repeat of the nation's worst bushfire disaster.

IND Technology, which commercialised the invention, wants to see it rolled out nationally.

But there are limitations.

Ahead of the next disaster season, energy providers are weighing up the benefits against the $380 million installation bill.

The system

On February 7, 2009, a fire started in Kilmore East, 65 kilometres north of Melbourne, when a faulty power line was brought down in powerful winds on a hot, dry, 46 degree Celsius day.

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