The Ultimate Guide: What to do During a Power Outage

Whether you’re in the middle of preparing dinner or winding down at the end of the day and watching your favourite Netflix show – power outages can be really frustrating. There are a range of reasons you may experience a power outage at home, including lightning, heatwaves, floods, high winds, bushfires or from trees interfering with your power lines.

Extended power outages can impact your day-to-day or even the entire community. When you notice a power outage, there are a few steps you can take to identify the problem. Read through this guide to learn more about how to locate the problem, who to contact and important safety precautions you can take to ensure you and your family stay safe. 

Put together an energy plan and kit

Depending on the severity, power outages can last several days. For this reason, it’s important to be prepared. First on your list should be alternative lighting, such as LED lanterns, torches or candles. Be sure to keep flames away from gas sources and flammable materials.

You’ll also want access to a chargeable mobile phone, emergency contacts and any other battery-powered devices such as a radio or laptop. Access to drinking water is also crucial – so if you rely on an electrical water pump, be sure you have alternative sources for freshwater. 

What if you have special needs for power?

If you require an uninterrupted power supply for life support equipment or you have a medical condition that requires continuous power, you should make the company you pay for your electricity aware of this immediately.

Locate the source

Having a better understanding of what caused the outage can help solve the problem much quicker. The most common cause of power outages is severe weather. Animals, car accidents or underground digging can also cause interruptions to your power supply. 

Check to see if your neighbours still have power, if they do, it could be an isolated situation on your property caused by a tripped switch.

Switch off all electrical appliances

To prevent equipment damage from a potential power surge, be sure to turn off and unplug all electrical appliances. You’ll also want to switch off all lights, especially when sleeping or if you’re leaving the house, as they will turn back on when the power switches on. 

Stay safe

Steer clear of fallen power lines and encourage others in your community to do the same, as the powerlines may still be live. Don’t try to connect temporary power supply generators, doing electrical work yourself is incredibly dangerous and also illegal.

Losing power means losing electricity for your fridge and freezer, so you’ll want to be cautious with cold and frozen foods. Don’t open your appliances unless absolutely necessary and eat hot food within four hours or it will need to be disposed of. 

Once power is restored, if frozen food is still solid and refrigerated food is still cold to the touch, then it is still safe to restore and eat later on.

Who can help to restore your power?

Your local electrical distribution company is usually liable for restoring your power. If issues persist, consider contacting a Level 2 Electrician for service and repairs. Overhead Electrical Services can help with a range of power and electrical issues.

As an Accredited Service Provider Level 2, the team at Overhead Electrical can help with storm damage repairs, bracket repairs, switchboard upgrades or repairs and more. Offering 24/7 support, get in touch today by calling 0409 017 436 or completing an online contact form.