Power Outage Geelong
When your power goes out, it somehow always seems to happen at the most inconvenient time. Like in the middle of cooking dinner or your favourite TV show. Obviously, power outages are a daily occurrence somewhere and eventually it is something we all experience. The reasons for a Geelong power outage happening are rarely the same because there are multiple causes. It could be from a simple blown fuse which makes the problem local to your home or it could be spread all across your town. Either way, there are steps to take when it happens so you can be sure that the issue doesn’t become more than a nuisance. PS! When dealing with anything electrical, it is strongly advised to call your local Geelong electricians. (opens in new tab)
Below there is a checklist you can follow to get to the root of the problem and be prepared for any future blackouts.
Below there is a checklist you can follow to get to the root of the problem and be prepared for any future blackouts.
STEP 1The Meter Box - Circuit Breakers
The first thing people should do when the power goes out is to check that all the circuit breakers in your meter box are set to the ‘on’ position. How do I check the circuit breakers? If the power has gone out and it’s night time, you will need a light source. Your flashlight on your mobile will work fine. Go to your meter box, it is usually located at the front of the building. Your meter box is where you would find any safety switches. Open up your meter box and check to see if any switches or circuit breakers have been activated. This means they have been turned ‘off’. If you see any in the ‘off’ position, make sure to turn them all back into the ‘on’ position. If this hasn’t solved the problem then you have most likely eliminated the source of the power outage being local to your home. It is most likely a neighborhood wide event. |
STEP 2Go Check With Your Next Door Neighbor
After dealing with the meter box and finding out that everything seems ok, go check your neighbors power. Knock on their door and find out whether they too are having a power outage like you are. If you can see they have lights on then it is obvious they still have power. This means there could be a downed power line nearby. Never go near a downed power line, this is an extremely dangerous situation and you should call emergency services straight away. If your neighbor does not have power then the blackout is most likely a town wide event. However if your neighbor does have power, even after checking your meter box, you may have to call a local electrician. |
STEP 3Call Your Power
Supplier Do not confuse your power supplier with your energy retailer. The energy retailer sends you your electricity bills while the power supplier is the company in charge of all the power in your area. You can do a quick google search on your mobile to find out who is the power supplier for your area. This will also bring up their contact details, give them a quick call and let them know of your power outage. While the power supplier probably already knows about the power outage, it is always best just to make sure. At least while you speak with them they can give you an update on what the situation is and a timeframe for when the power comes back on. |
STEP 4Unplug Appliances
When the power does eventually come back on, it gives a sudden rush of electricity to all appliances that are plugged in. Go around the house and double check your most expensive appliances are not plugged in with the power on at the wall. Turning the power off at the wall will suffice as this stops the electricity flowing through. Common appliances to check are home computers, TV’s or any other entertainment systems, portable air conditioners or any of such devices. |
STEP 5Prepare and Conserve
The last thing you should do while waiting for the power to come back on is prepare and conserve your food and energy. If it is in the middle of winter and you do not have a fireplace then you should go around the house and shut all the curtains. This will keep the warmth in for longer. Another thing you should do is think about any perishable foods in your fridge. While you do not want to open up your fridge and let out the cold, you may have to think about moving items from the fridge to the freezer. Depending on what the power supplier has advised as a timeframe, foods that spoil quickly are things like dairy and meats. If the power outage has lasted more than an hour this is something you should start to think about. Moving these items from the fridge to the freezer next to colder items will keep them colder for longer. |
So there you go, these are the 5 basic steps to follow when you are experiencing a power outage. I hope you found this helpful and make sure you share this article with any friends or family that you think may enjoy it.