Must Do’s When Your Home Experiences A Power Outage

Facing disruptions in residential power can range from minor inconveniences to significant challenges like rolling brownouts or large-scale blackouts caused by weather events. These outages are stark reminders of our dependence on the electricity grid for everyday activities, from charging gadgets to essential functions like lighting and refrigeration. 

Understanding the root causes of power failures empowers you to potentially troubleshoot issues independently without relying on professional services. While planned outages and unpaid bills can lead to disconnections, this blog focuses on preparing for unexpected disruptions, ensuring safety and minimal inconvenience during such occurrences.

When your home experiences a power outage, try locating the root cause of the problem:

Identifying Power Issues

When power suddenly cuts off in your home, it’s often due to a tripped fuse, especially if you’ve recently added more appliances to an already packed space. Start by switching off and unplugging sensitive electronics like TVs and computers, and reduce the load on power boards by removing excess devices.

Test other lights around your home to gauge the extent of the outage. Your fuse box is a safety mechanism that cuts off power to prevent electrical hazards like fires or electrocution.

Each fuse controls electricity flow to specific areas, isolating problems to prevent total blackouts. If a fuse trips, switch it on cautiously after ensuring all appliances are off to avoid overloading. Repeated tripping could indicate more profound issues with your circuit breaker, necessitating professional intervention to diagnose and resolve underlying problems.

Find Out Whether Your Neighbours Have Power 

Before reaching out to an electrician, troubleshoot potential power issues independently. Observe neighbouring homes for lights at night or ask via phone or door checks during the day. If neighbours are also affected, it indicates an external outage, sparing the need for immediate professional assistance.

Check the Power Outages Map

You can check for power outages in Sydney and surrounding areas.

• Ausgrid Power Outage Map: Ausgrid, the largest electricity distributor on Australia’s east coast, provides power to 1.8 million customers. You can check their power outage map to see any reported outages in your area. It displays estimated restoration times and causes (if known).
• Endeavour Energy: Endeavour Energy serves approximately 2.4 million people in Sydney’s Greater West, the Blue Mountains, Southern Highlands, the Illawarra, and the South Coast. However, you must download their app to view Endeavour Energy’s outage information.

Ausgrid and Endeavour rely on customer reports to detect and address small-scale power outages. If you don’t see your neighbourhood on the map, you can report a power outage by calling Ausgrid at 13 13 88 or Endeavour at 13 10 03.

Weather-Related Power Disruptions

Wild weather events threaten the power supply nationwide, leading to widespread blackouts and state outages, such as in SA 2019. Various weather conditions contribute to these disruptions:

• High winds and storms can damage lines and transformers.
• Heavy rain, flooding, and hail can harm electrical infrastructure.
• Lightning strikes can overload the network.
• Heatwaves strain equipment, leading to failures.
• Bushfires necessitate safety disconnections. 

Cumulative damage from multiple factors can worsen outages across the state.

Responding to Electrical Emergencies

Various factors like weather, wildlife, and accidents can lead to electrical emergencies. In such situations involving fallen or arcing power lines, leaning poles, or exposed cables, safety measures are crucial:

• Maintain a distance of at least 8 meters or two car lengths.
• Contact Ausgrid at 13 13 88 or Endeavour at 13 10 03 to report the emergency.

Immediate response prioritises hazards threatening public safety, followed by restoring power to vital services like hospitals and emergency response units. Subsequently, efforts focus on repairing transmission and network electricity supply.

Prepare and Prioritise

Ensure readiness for unplanned outages with the following essential items:

• Battery-operated radio for emergency updates
• Torches with spare batteries
• First aid kit and vital medications
• Landline phone
• Key contacts
• Access to freshwater

High-voltage transmission line repairs take precedence, followed by lower-voltage distribution networks. Service wire or underground cable damages wait until broader network restoration. For Endeavour Energy, contacting a Level 2 electrician near you may be necessary for home repairs beyond the connection point.

Contact Eris Electrical for Expert Electrical Solutions

For issues with service wires, cables, or private electricity poles causing outages, a certified Level 2 Electrician is essential. Eris Electrical provides round-the-clock Level 2 electricians accredited by Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy. Our services include installing, repairing, and maintaining overhead and underground power lines. With full insurance coverage and a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW), we ensure reliable power restoration to your property. You can count on Eris Electrical for professional Level 2 electrical solutions.