Fallen power lines
Always treat fallen lines as live. Stay at least 8 metres away, keep others back and call Endeavour Energy on 131 003 straight away. If a line falls on your car, stay inside unless there's a fire.
Water and electrics
If water gets into the house, switch off at the main switch only if you can do it from a dry spot. Don't touch switches or appliances while standing in water. Have everything checked by an electrician before turning the power back on.
Protect against surges
Lightning and power coming back on after an outage can cause surges. Surge protection at the switchboard, plus surge-protected power boards for TVs and computers, reduces the risk of damage.
After the storm
- Check outdoor power points and lights for water damage.
- If the safety switch keeps tripping, get the outdoor circuits checked.
- Look for damage to the service line or meter box and report it.
Before the next storm
Trim branches back from the service line to the house (or ask Endeavour Energy if it's near the network), and replace cracked outdoor fittings now rather than after they fail.
Need an electrician in Wollongong, the Illawarra or Shoalhaven? Get a free, fixed-price quote or call Jade on 0402 273 820.
