Power Is Out - Here's Exactly What To Do

It happens to everyone - you're watching TV, cooking dinner or trying to sleep and suddenly everything goes dark. Before you panic, here's exactly what to do when the power goes out.

STEP 1 - CHECK YOUR SWITCHBOARD FIRST

Head to your switchboard - usually found in the garage, laundry or on an outside wall. Open it up and look for any switches that have flipped to the OFF position or sitting in the middle. If you find one, try switching it back to ON. If it immediately flicks back off, stop there - do not keep trying. That's a sign of a fault and you need a licensed electrician.

STEP 2 - CHECK IF YOUR NEIGHBOURS ARE AFFECTED

Stick your head outside and look around. Are your neighbours' lights on? If the whole street is dark, the problem is with the network - not your home. There's nothing wrong with your wiring.

STEP 3 - REPORT THE OUTAGE TO YOUR NETWORK PROVIDER

If it's a street or suburb outage, report it to your local network provider:

- Queensland: Energex- 13 62 62

- New South Wales: Ausgrid or Essential Energy - 13 20 80

They can give you an estimated restoration time.

STEP 4 - PROTECT YOUR APPLIANCES

While the power is out, switch off and unplug sensitive appliances like TVs, computers and fridges. When power is restored there can be a surge that damages electronics.

STEP 5 - STAY SAFE IN THE DARK

Use a torch rather than candles where possible - candles are a fire risk. Keep the fridge and freezer closed to preserve food. If you have a medical device that relies on power, call 000 and let them know.

WHEN TO CALL AN ELECTRICIAN

Call a licensed electrician immediately if:

- A switch in your switchboard keeps tripping back off

- You smell burning or see scorch marks near your switchboard or power points

- The outage is only affecting your property and not your neighbours

- You have flickering lights or partial power loss

These are signs of a wiring fault or switchboard issue that needs a professional - don't try to fix these yourself.

Need an electrician on the Gold Coast or Northern Rivers right now? Lee Miller Group offers emergency callouts across the Gold Coast, Tweed and down to Ballina. Fourth-generation local, fully licensed in QLD and NSW.

Call Lee now: 0429 605 758