My solar isn't working. Is that an emergency?

If the rest of the home has power and the solar is just inactive, no — book us for a non-urgent inspection. If the solar is faulted in a way that prevents the main switch resetting, yes.

The point of attachment is loose. Whose responsibility is it?

The point of attachment hardware (bracket and insulator on your home) is the property owner's responsibility. The service main itself is Ausgrid's. Repairs and replacement are licensed Level 2 ASP work — we handle this routinely.

What about my food in the freezer?

A typical full freezer holds ~24 hours; a half-empty one ~12 hours. Don't open it. After 24+ hours of outage, perishables should be assessed individually. Keep receipts for any spoiled food — your contents insurance may cover it.

How quickly can you respond after a major storm?

During peak storm response we are running 2–4 hour ETAs across Sydney. We prioritise active fire risk, fallen lines, wet switchboards, medical-dependence customers, and elderly residents. Call 0433 462 902 as early as possible to lock in your slot.

Is it safe to reset my RCD myself after a storm?

Yes — if the switchboard area is dry, there are no burning smells, and there are no visible scorch marks, you can press the RCD back to ON yourself. If it trips again immediately or won't reset at all, there is an active fault on that circuit and it must stay off until a licensed electrician has inspected it.

Will my house catch fire if water got into my meter box?

It can — water inside a meter box causes arcing and short circuits that can ignite surrounding materials, sometimes hours after the storm as moisture tracks through wiring. Leave the meter box closed, do not open or touch it, and book an emergency inspection. Call Sydney Electrical Service on 0433 462 902 if you see corrosion, scorch marks, or smell burning near the box.

How much does it cost to repair a storm-damaged switchboard in Sydney?

Cost varies widely depending on what is damaged — a single blown service fuse is a quick fix, while a water-logged switchboard may need full replacement including new RCDs and circuit breakers. We provide fixed-price quotes before any work begins, so you know exactly what you are up for.

Who should I call first after a storm — an electrician or Ausgrid?

Call Ausgrid (13 13 88) first if the entire street is dark, a power line is down near your property, or your service fuse has blown — those faults are on their network and they must attend first. If your neighbours have power but you do not, the fault is on your side of the meter and an electrician is the right first call.

Do I really need an electrician to check things if the power came back on and everything seems fine?

If circuits tripped during the storm, breakers feel warm to the touch, any outlets spark when you plug something in, or lights flicker on otherwise working circuits, book a post-storm inspection — storm surges can leave heat damage inside wiring that only shows up days later. If nothing tripped and everything behaves normally, you are likely okay, but any doubt is worth a quick check.

No Power After Storm Hornsby

Emergency Response in Hornsby

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Tree-heavy suburbs — Wahroonga, Killara, Pymble, Hunters Hill, Lane Cove — see the highest rate of overhead consumer mains damage in metro Sydney. East-coast lows and storm-driven branches account for hundreds of point-of-attachment and service-mains callouts every storm season.

On the leafy North Shore, falling branches and overhead service lines are a common cause of post-storm outages on the larger blocks, while the strata towers around Chatswood may lose power to common-area boards. With heavy EV, data and automation loads, check whether it's your switchboard or the whole building before calling the network.

Full guide: No Power After Storm in Sydney – What to Check — causes, FAQs & expert advice

About No Power After Storm in Sydney – What to Check

Fallen network lines, a tripped RCD, a blown service fuse, or storm-damaged switchboard wiring are the most common causes of power loss after a Sydney storm. If you smell burning, see scorch marks, or find a damaged meter box, the hazard is live — book a 24/7 emergency inspection or call Sydney Electrical Service on 0433 462 902 immediately.

Sydney’s storm season — east-coast lows, summer thunderstorms, and southerly busters — can dump 80 mm of rain and 100 km/h winds in under an hour, leaving thousands of homes across every metropolitan suburb without power. This page is the action checklist: what to look at, in sequence, so you can isolate the fault fast and turn a multi-day outage into a same-day fix.

Electrical work in Hornsby

Hornsby's housing is a real mixed bag, and the wiring tells the story. You've got pockets of Federation-era and older character homes alongside the streets of 1960s-to-1990s brick-veneer houses that dominate the area, sitting on big leafy blocks backing onto bushland. The older stock is where we see tired switchboards with ceramic rebewireable fuses, aged rubber or early PVC cabling, and no RCD safety switches, all of which are worth bringing up to current standards. On the bushland fringe, where so much of Hornsby sits, neat cabling, sound switchboards and properly rated circuits matter even more, especially for anyone running pumps, sheds or detached studios down the back.

Closer to the station and through Waitara, the newer R3/R4 strata blocks bring their own work: common-property switchboards, sub-metering and three-phase supply for lifts and shared services. Bigger renovated and knock-down-rebuild homes often need a three-phase upgrade and a board rebuild to handle ducted air-con, induction cooktops and EV chargers. As a Level 2 ASP working on the Ausgrid network, we handle the connection side too: consumer mains, point-of-attachment and metering work that a standard electrician can't legally touch.

Common Questions

The whole street is out — should I still call you?

Not yet. Confirm via the Ausgrid (13 13 88) or Endeavour Energy outage map first. We can't help until the network is restored. Once neighbours have power and your home is still out, call us.

The power came back on but my main switch keeps tripping. Why?

Storm damage often leaves residual moisture or surge effects that don't show until power returns. A tripping main switch indicates a downstream fault — water in an outdoor circuit, surge damage to an appliance, or compromised wiring.

Should I dry the switchboard with a hairdryer?

No. Never work inside an energised or potentially energised switchboard. A wet board must be professionally isolated, dried, tested, and re-certified before being put back into service.

Can I just leave outdoor circuits off until summer ends?

You can — but the underlying fault doesn't fix itself, and the damage typically worsens as water sits. We recommend a Level 2 inspection within 7 days of any storm-related outdoor circuit fault.

Why Hornsby Residents Choose Us

From sub-$200 outlet repairs to $50,000 multi-storey switchboard-and-consumer-mains rebuilds, we bring the same Level 2 ASP capability to every North Shore job. Federation residence owners get the same standard of work as Chatswood high-rise strata committees.