In a modern world, there’s nothing so daunting as losing power. Rest assured, there isn’t an energy distributor in Australia that doesn’t make the continuous supply of electricity their number one priority.

But what happens when, on that rare occasion, the lights do go out?

Here’s some useful tips the team here at Sumo has prepared to assist you.

Why has my power gone out?

There are many causes for the interruption of your power supply. Common causes of power outages can be:

• bush fires
• high winds, lightning strikes and storms
• vehicle accidents
• overloads
• vandalism
• equipment failure
• wiring or appliance faults within your property, or
• even animals interrupting service.

The power lines in your area may also need to be temporarily taken out of service if there repairs or maintenance are needed. If this is the case, please call your distributor to find out if there are known faults or outages in your area.

What should I do first?

We recommend ruling out that the issue is not localised. Check your fuse box and trip switches to make sure everything is in order. If a switch has tripped to the ‘off’ position, you may have a problem with your wiring or an appliance. If you’re in doubt, or don’t feel confident in handling the issue on your own, you may wish to call an electrician for support. If the switch has not tripped, and there are no obvious signs of a fuse ‘blowing’, please call your distributor to find out if there are known faults or outages in your area.

If you need to leave the house but your car is locked in your garage behind an electric door that won’t open, check to see if it has a manual override or enough battery backup to operate the mechanism.

What should I do during a power outage?

Turn off all your appliances and unplug them from the wall, remembering that some items such as computers and audiovisual equipment can be more sensitive to surges, should they occur. Keep one light on so you know when the power comes back on. Fridge and freezers may start to thaw, so it’s important to minimise opening the fridge and freezer so it stays cool for as long as possible. Don’t forget to check any frozen food hasn’t spoiled.

Heaters and cooking appliances can cause potential fire hazards if not treated correctly. In the event of a power outage, switch these appliances off and unplug them from the wall. To give you additional comfort, clear any items from these appliances – such as towels, newspapers and kitchen paper or plastics.

Be a good neighbour

The loss of power can be daunting for most of us, but please also spare a thought for your neighbours, particularly the elderly or those with less ability. A simple visit to your neighbour and an offer of assistance can go a long way. It’s also an easy way of finding out if the supply issue is specific to your home, or a neighbourhood event.

If you are still in doubt, call your distributors faults and emergencies number which can be found in the top right-hand corner of your power bill.

Think like a scout and be prepared

There’s nothing worse than sitting in the dark, waiting for power to be restored, so do yourself a favour and always have an emergency kit ready to go. We recommend having a torch or two, with new batteries, some candles and matches…and, if you’re like us and can’t go without social media, always have a spare battery for your phone or tablet device charged and ready to go. That way you can check in with friends and your community for updates. If it’s winter, grab a blanket and keep yourself warm. If it’s summer, close any curtains and blinds to keep the house cooler.

When will my power be restored?

While we encourage you to call your distributor to check, you should be aware that all energy distributors have a priority list when it comes to widespread outages. And there’s a good reason for that.

First priority will always be to resort essential services first, such as hospitals, emergency rooms and emergency services. Then, your distributor will likely priorities those customers who have been without energy the longest. If you have access to the internet (via any mobile device), you may be able to check for updates on your distributor’s webpages.

That’s weird. I have solar panels but no power.

It might surprise you to know that solar power systems automatically shut down if mains power goes off. They also restart automatically when mains power is restored.

Have your own generator? Great! But please use with caution

For the super prepared, having your own generator can be a great way to ensure continuity of service – at least for a period. But we recommend that your use of generators is undertaken with extreme caution, and only to power appliances directly. That means you should not connect the output to the house switchboard or wiring, which can cause a safety risk to energy workers.