Power out at home? What to check first
A power cut can be a network outage, a tripped switch in your home, or a fault in your own wiring. A few safe checks tell you who to call.
Safety classification
Safe inspection only
This guide covers safe first actions only. It is not a licence to perform regulated work or enter a dangerous area.
What to do
- 1
Look outside
Check whether neighbours and street lights have power. If the whole street is out, it is probably a network outage.
- 2
Check your distributor's outage information
Your electricity distributor, shown on your bill, publishes outage maps and a faults line. Report the outage if it is not listed.
- 3
Check the switchboard
With dry hands and a torch, look for a tripped safety switch or circuit breaker. Reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- 4
Protect food and devices
Keep the fridge and freezer closed, and unplug sensitive electronics so they are not damaged when power returns.
- 5
Call an electrician for home faults
If only your home is affected and resetting does not work, a licensed electrician needs to find the fault.
When to stop
- Fallen power lines — stay at least 8 metres away and call 000
- Burning smells, sparks or a hot switchboard
- The main switch or meter looks damaged
- Someone relies on powered medical equipment
Electrical
Prepare the problem, safety status and location once. The matching category and service will be pre-filled.
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