Power out in half the house
Check the switchboard first. A tripped circuit breaker or safety switch is the usual cause. If everything on the board looks on and half the house is still dark, call us.
What to do right now
- Check the switchboard for any switch that is down or in the middle position.
- Reset a tripped switch once. If it trips again, leave it off.
- Check whether neighbours also have power.
- Switch off big appliances in the dark half before power returns.
It is an emergency if
There is a burning smell, buzzing from the board, or lights flicker and dim across the house. Switch off the main switch if it is safe and call.
For fire, smoke, shock injuries or fallen lines, call 000 first.
Common causes
A tripped breaker
An overloaded or faulty circuit. Usually found at the board.
A lost phase
Three-phase homes can lose one of their phases, taking out part of the house. This is a supply problem we diagnose and handle.
A failed connection
A loose or burnt connection at the board or meter can drop part of the supply.
What we do about it
We test the supply and the board, find the failed part and repair it. If the fault is on the network side, we tell you who to call.
Common questions
Half my lights work but the power points do not. Why?
Lights and power points are on separate circuits. One has tripped or failed. The board will usually show which.
Should I wait for it to fix itself?
No. A partial loss can mean a damaged connection that is heating up.