The power goes out. It's dark. The fridge stops humming. Your Wi-Fi drops. What now? Before you call anyone, a simple process of elimination will tell you whether the problem is in your home, on your street, or with the energy grid — and what to do about each scenario.
Step 1: Check Your Street
Look outside. Are your neighbours' lights on? Is the street lighting working?
- Neighbours also off + no street lights: It's a grid outage. Your energy distributor (Ausgrid in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs) is responsible. Skip to "Grid Outage" below
- Neighbours' lights on + street lights on: The problem is in your home. Continue to Step 2
- Some neighbours on, some off: Could be a partial grid fault or a transformer issue. Check your switchboard anyway
Step 2: Check Your Switchboard
Open your switchboard (usually near the front door, in the garage, or on an external wall). Look for:
- Main switch in OFF position: Try switching it back on. If it holds, your power should restore. If it trips immediately, there's a significant fault — call an electrician
- Safety switch (RCD) in OFF/tripped position: A single tripped RCD means an earth leakage fault on the circuits it protects. Try resetting it. If it trips again, you likely have a faulty appliance or wiring issue
- Individual circuit breaker tripped: Only that circuit is affected. Reset it and see if it holds. If it immediately trips, the circuit has a fault
- Everything looks ON but no power: The problem may be at the main fuse (service fuse) between the meter and your switchboard — this is Ausgrid's responsibility
Grid Outage (Not Your Problem)
If it's a grid outage:
- Check the Ausgrid outage map: ausgrid.com.au/outages
- Report the outage: Call Ausgrid on 13 13 88 or use their app
- Wait it out: Most grid outages are resolved within 1-4 hours. During storms, allow longer
- Protect your electronics: Switch off sensitive equipment (computers, TVs) at the wall to protect against power surges when supply is restored
Your Home's Fault (You Need an Electrician If...)
- The main switch or safety switch won't stay on when reset
- You smell burning or see scorch marks at the switchboard
- The switchboard is warm or hot to touch
- Individual circuits keep tripping after reset
- You have power to some circuits but not others, and resetting breakers doesn't help
- The outage keeps recurring at specific times or under specific conditions
Things to Do During a Power Outage
- Keep fridge and freezer doors closed — a full freezer stays frozen for 24-48 hours if you don't open it
- Use phone flashlight or torches — avoid candles if possible (fire risk)
- Switch off appliances at the wall — to prevent damage from power surges when supply returns
- Leave one light switch ON — so you'll know when power is restored
- Check on vulnerable neighbours — elderly or medically dependent people may need assistance
If you need an electrician for a power outage in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs, call Randwick Electrical on 0413 707 758 — we provide 24/7 emergency response.