What to Do If Your Power Goes Out?
A sudden loss of power is more than just an inconvenience — it can be stressful, potentially dangerous, and costly depending on the cause. Whether you’re dealing with a stormy night in the suburbs, summer overloads, or an issue with your home’s electrical system, knowing what to do if your power goes out can help you stay safe, act quickly, and avoid unnecessary panic.
This guide walks you through how to determine if the issue is part of a grid-wide fault or something isolated to your home, what steps to take immediately, and when to call in a licensed electrician.
Identifying Whether It’s a Local Fault or a Network Outage
When the power goes out, your first step is to determine whether it’s limited to your home or part of a wider outage across your area.
Take a quick look outside. Are the neighbours’ lights on? Are streetlights still working? If surrounding properties are also without power, it’s likely a network issue.
You can confirm this by checking your distributor’s outage map — providers like Western Power, Ausgrid or Energex offer live updates, estimated restoration times, and emergency phone numbers to report hazards like fallen or low-hanging power lines.
If the fault comes from the network, you’ll need to wait until the provider restores the supply. But if the issue affects only your home, you’ll need to carry out further checks.
Inspect Your Switchboard
If you’ve ruled out a wider outage, inspect your switchboard — typically located outside the home or in the garage.
Look for tripped circuit breakers or safety switches (RCDs). If one has tripped, try resetting it. If it trips again immediately, this may point to a wiring fault or a malfunctioning appliance.
Homes with ceramic fuses or outdated systems are especially vulnerable to faults and power surges, and may not meet current safety standards. If anything looks or smells unusual, or you’re unsure how to proceed, it’s best to stop and call a licensed electrician like our team at PWA Electrical Services.
Protecting Appliances and Preparing for Longer Outages
Once the power is out, take steps to protect your household and prevent further disruption.
Unplug sensitive electrical items like TVs, computers, and kitchen appliances to protect them from damage when power returns. Turn on one light to see when the supply returns, and switch off unnecessary lights or appliances at the wall.
If the outage extends beyond a few hours, it helps to have an emergency kit ready. This might include:
- A battery-operated or battery-powered torch (avoid candles for safety)
- A fully charged power bank to keep your mobile phone usable
- Bottled water, non-perishable food, and an esky or cooler to store refrigerated items
Keep your fridge and freezer doors closed to preserve food for up to 24 hours in the case of a prolonged outage. If you rely on internet services, think about having backup mobile data options on hand.
Identifying Internal Electrical Issues
If the outage affects only your home and the switchboard has tripped, internal wiring or a faulty appliance likely caused the issue.
Start by unplugging all devices and resetting the RCD. If it holds, reconnect appliances one at a time. If the circuit trips again after plugging in a specific item, that device is likely the cause.
Other common internal faults include overloaded circuits, worn or damaged wiring, water ingress, or ageing components — particularly in older homes or those without recent electrical inspections.
If you experience repeated power loss, flickering lights, buzzing sounds, or burning smells, these are all warning signs that need immediate attention.
When to Call a Professional
It’s important to know when to stop troubleshooting and call a qualified electrician, like our team. Contact a professional if:
- You’re unable to restore power after basic checks
- RCD or breakers continue tripping
- You see or smell signs of electrical damage
- Your home still uses an old fuse box or unprotected circuits
- You prefer a safe, expert diagnosis
Quick action can prevent small faults from becoming serious hazards — especially during times of increased reliance on power, like extreme weather or overnight outages.
The Benefits of Upgrading Your Switchboard
Many older Australian homes still operate with early-generation switchboards or legacy fuse boxes. These systems don’t support today’s appliance loads and often lack safety switches, which increases the risk of power surges, faults, and even fire.
Upgrading your switchboard helps to:
- Reduce the risk of outages and electrical faults
- Handle modern appliance demands
- Create a safer foundation for future upgrades like solar or EV chargers
- Give peace of mind during power outages, storms or hot weather
- Improve fault detection and speed up the process of safely restoring power
If your home hasn’t had an electrical inspection in over a decade — or you’re frequently experiencing power loss — getting an upgraded switchboard installed will be a great investment.
Get Professional Help with PWA Electrical Services
Power outages don’t always come with a warning, but regular electrical maintenance can help you avoid being caught off guard. If you’ve ever wondered what to do if your power goes out, the answer often starts with prevention.
A licensed electrician, like any of our team, can assess your switchboard, wiring, outlets and appliances to catch faults early and keep your home safe and compliant.
If your home is older, you’ve recently moved in, or you’ve added high-demand appliances, a preventative inspection is essential — especially if you’ve noticed flickering lights or frequent trips.
PWA Electrical Services provides expert inspections and maintenance for Perth homes. Get in touch with our team of fully licensed electricians today and be ready the next time the power goes out.
For seasonal tips, see our guide on How to Prepare Your Home for Winter.