Electrical Emergencies at Home in Melbourne: What to Do

Emergency ElectricalElectrical Emergencies at Home in Melbourne: What to Do
Emergency Electrical

Some electrical faults need more than a repair booking. If there is fire, smoke, a serious shock or immediate danger, move away and call 000. Do not touch damaged wiring, a wet switchboard or anyone who may still be in contact with live electricity.

What should I do first?

Keep people away from the fault. If it is safe to reach the switchboard without touching water, damaged equipment or exposed wiring, turn off the affected circuit or main switch. If it is not safe, leave it alone and get help. Do not try to repair wiring, power points or the switchboard yourself.

Shock or tingling from an appliance or tap

Stop using the appliance or tap and keep others away. If a person has been shocked, seek medical help; call 000 for an emergency. If you feel tingles or shocks from appliances or taps, contact your electricity distributor immediately and arrange for a licensed electrician to check the property wiring. Do not assume a small tingle is harmless.

Burning smell, sparks or a hot power point

Stop using the affected item. If there is smoke or fire, leave the area and call 000. If it is safe, turn off the power at the switchboard. Do not keep using the outlet, switch or appliance until a licensed electrician has assessed it. Sparks, damaged power points and flickering lights can be signs of faulty wiring.

Safety switch or circuit breaker keeps tripping

A switch that trips again is warning you that something needs checking. Do not keep resetting it or bypass it. Leave the affected circuit off and arrange an electrician to find the cause. A safety switch helps protect people from electric shock; a circuit breaker protects wiring from overloads and short circuits. They are not the same device.

No power, or lights are dim and flickering

Check whether nearby homes also have no power and look for an outage notice from your electricity distributor. Your distributor handles faults in the supply network. If only your property is affected, or a switch will not stay on, a licensed electrician can assess the installation. If the lights are unusually dim or flickering, or supply is only partly working, do not touch the switchboard or metal fittings; call your distributor immediately.

Water near wiring or the switchboard

Do not enter floodwater or touch wet electrical equipment. If water has entered the property, do not turn the power back on or use affected appliances until a licensed electrician has tested them. Only turn off power before leaving if you can do so safely.

Who should I call in Melbourne?

  • Immediate danger, fire or a serious injury: call 000.
  • Street supply fault, outage, unusually dim or flickering supply, or tingles from taps: contact your electricity distributor. If you do not know who that is, check your electricity bill or Energy Victoria’s distributor guidance.
  • Fault inside the property: arrange a licensed electrician. Electrica Co can assess domestic electrical faults across the areas we service. See our electrical services or send us the details. We will confirm availability and the next step; we are not a replacement for emergency services or your electricity distributor.

Safety sources: Energy Safe Victoria: power outages and energy safety; Energy Safe Victoria: safety switches and warning signs; Energy Safe Victoria: floods and energy safety. This general guide cannot diagnose an individual fault.

Check your distributor’s outage notice and keep clear of damaged lines or equipment. If only your home has lost power, or a safety switch will not stay on, arrange a licensed electrician. If supply is unusually dim or partly working, call your distributor immediately and avoid the switchboard.
Do not repeatedly reset it or bypass it. Leave the affected circuit off and arrange a licensed electrician to find the fault. A safety switch and a circuit breaker protect against different hazards.
If lights are unusually dim or flickering across the property, or only part of the supply is working, avoid the switchboard and metal fittings and call your electricity distributor immediately. For an isolated light fault, stop using the affected fitting and ask a licensed electrician to assess it.
Move away from the source and do not touch anyone who may still be in contact with electricity. Seek medical help; call 000 if it is an emergency. For tingles or shocks from appliances or taps, call your electricity distributor immediately and have the property wiring checked by a licensed electrician.
Warning signs include damaged or hot power points, sparks, burning smells, repeated tripping and flickering lights. Stop using the affected item and arrange a licensed electrician. If there is fire or immediate danger, leave and call 000.
Have a licensed electrician assess warning signs such as sparks, repeated tripping, shocks or flickering lights. Energy Safe Victoria also advises checking older household wiring, especially in homes more than 30 years old. The right inspection timing depends on the property and any faults found.