Description
What to Do in a Power Outage in Perth: A Simple Guide
Knowing what to do in a power outage saves stress when the lights suddenly go out, whether it is a street blackout or a fault in your own home. A little preparation, and knowing what to do in a power outage, keeps your household safe and comfortable. Here is a simple guide for Perth homes.
First: is it you or the network?
The first thing to check in a power outage is whether it is your home or the network. See whether your neighbours have power and look at your switchboard for a tripped main switch. If the whole street is dark, it is a Western Power outage; if only your home is out, the fault is likely yours.
6 things to do in a power outage
- Check if neighbours are affected, to spot a network outage
- Check your switchboard for a tripped main switch
- Use torches rather than candles to avoid fire risk
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed to hold the cold
- Switch off and unplug sensitive electronics
- Leave one light on so you know when power returns
Stay safe in the dark
Part of knowing what to do in a power outage is staying safe while the power is off. Use torches or battery lanterns rather than candles, which are a fire risk. Take care on stairs, and check on elderly neighbours or anyone who relies on powered medical equipment, who may need extra help during a longer outage.
Protect your appliances
An important step is to switch off and unplug sensitive electronics like computers and TVs. When power returns it can come back with a surge that damages equipment left on. Leaving one light switched on tells you the moment power is restored, so you can turn everything back on gradually rather than all at once.
Food in the fridge and freezer
Keep the fridge and freezer closed during a power outage and the contents stay cold for hours. A full freezer holds its temperature longer than an empty one. What to do in a power outage here is simple: resist opening the doors, and most food will be fine through a typical short outage.
If only your home is out
If the outage is just your property, what to do in a power outage shifts to your switchboard. Check the main switch and safety switches, and reset anything tripped. If it trips straight back, or nothing is tripped yet you still have no power, the fault needs a licensed electrician rather than repeated resetting.
Longer outages and generators
For a longer outage, a generator can help, but only if used safely: outdoors, never indoors or in a garage, because of deadly exhaust fumes, and never plugged into your wiring without a proper changeover switch. An electrician can install a safe generator connection if you want reliable backup power.
Why use a licensed electrician
If a power outage is caused by a fault in your own home, that is licensed work to find and fix. A licensed electrician traces the fault, restores power safely, and can set up backup options. For network outages, Western Power is the right contact, on the Western Power outages and network page.
Be ready before it happens
A little preparation makes a power outage easier: keep torches and charged power banks handy, know where your switchboard is, and have your electrician’s and Western Power’s numbers saved. Knowing what to do in a power outage is far simpler when the basics are already in place.
Not sure what to do in a power outage in Perth?
If the fault is yours, ACS Electrical finds and fixes it across the metro. Explore our power outage troubleshooting guide, common electrical faults guide or safety switch tripping guide. Call 0419 967 838.
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