The state government released the Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce final report on December 29, reports the The Australian Financial Review.

It had held the report since September 30. The report's funding estimates include $250 million from the federal government to pay for safety improvements – almost a third of the cost of the reforms.

But the federal government said it had yet to receive a formal request for funding and a spokesman said it was a "bit rich" for the Victorian government to promise to adopt the recommendations when they relied on federal funding.

The project will require energy distribution businesses to install equipment to cut and restore power in areas of high bushfire risk and to replace old powerlines, and will cost up to $950 million.

The costs will be borne by the state government, energy distribution companies and, Victoria hopes, the federal government.

Federal funding could come from either the Minister for Emergency Management, Robert McClelland, or the Minister for Infrastructure, Anthony Albanese.

A spokesman for Mr McClelland said no formal application for funding had been made.

Mr McClelland said the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Assistance arrangements set out the criteria for federal assistance.

"If and when Victoria submits a formal proposal, the Commonwealth will examine it against these national criteria," he said.