If there’s immediate danger to life, fire or someone has had an electric shock, call 000 first. For fallen powerlines stay at least 8 metres away and call Energex on 13 19 62 (QLD) or Essential Energy on 13 20 80 (Northern NSW).
What to do first
- Keep people clear. Keep everyone, especially kids and pets, away from anything that is sparking, smoking, hot or wet.
- Switch off at the main switch if it’s safe. Only if you can reach the switchboard safely and it isn’t wet, damaged or smoking.
- Don’t touch anyone receiving a shock. Switch off the power first if you can, then call 000.
- Unplug appliances on a circuit that keeps tripping, then try resetting the safety switch once. If it trips again straight away, leave it off.
- Call us with a description of what happened, when, and any photos of the switchboard.
Common urgent faults we attend
- Safety switches that trip and won’t reset (see safety switches)
- Partial or total loss of power to a home or tenancy
- Burning smells, scorching or heat at power points, switches or the switchboard
- Water in light fittings or outdoor power after storms
- Storm and lightning damage
- Failed commercial circuits affecting trading, refrigeration or lighting
- Failed emergency or exit lighting ahead of an inspection
Commercial sites
For businesses, a fault can mean lost trade or spoiled stock. Clients on a maintenance arrangement have their site information, switchboard schedules and access details on file, which makes fault finding faster when something goes wrong.
Why faults keep coming back
Repeat tripping, flickering or hot fittings usually point to an underlying problem: an overloaded circuit, a failing appliance, moisture, corroded connections from salt air, or an old switchboard that’s reached its limit. We find the cause rather than just resetting the switch. Read more about fault finding and repairs and switchboard upgrades.