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 Vaucluse

Emergency Response in Vaucluse

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Beachfront properties in Bondi, Bronte, and Coogee, and harbourside homes through Vaucluse and Watsons Bay, share the most aggressive corrosion environment in metro Sydney. Salt air drives oxidation of breaker contacts, switchboard busbars, and outdoor terminations significantly faster than inland.

Out east the salt air does a number on outdoor switchboards and meter enclosures, so after a southerly buster it's worth checking for corroded connections and water in the meter box before you assume it's a network outage. In Art Deco and Federation homes near the beaches, an old main switch or safety switch tripping is often the first thing to look at.

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 Vaucluse

Vaucluse is a suburb of large, established homes, sprawling clifftop estates, grand inter-war residences and a fair number of substantial modern rebuilds. With that comes serious electrical load. Big homes here run ducted air conditioning, pool and spa plant, lifts, home cinemas, EV charging and large kitchens, and a single-phase supply simply can't carry it. A big part of our work in Vaucluse is three-phase: upgrading consumer mains, installing or rebalancing three-phase boards and arranging the network connection through Ausgrid so the supply matches what these properties actually draw.

As a Level 2 ASP we manage the connection-side work directly, from new underground service connections on the larger blocks to overhead service upgrades and metering. The clifftop and harbour-facing positions also mean salt exposure, so outdoor switchgear and point-of-attachment hardware need to be corrosion-rated. Whether it's a heritage estate with tired wiring due for a rewire, or a new build needing a properly engineered three-phase supply, we size and certify it correctly the first time.

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 Vaucluse Residents Choose Us

Salt-air corrosion isn't a hypothetical for the Eastern Suburbs — it's the underlying cause of about 40% of our local fault diagnoses. We replace tired breakers and corroded outlets in coastal Eastern Suburbs homes 5–10 years sooner than equivalent inland installations.