For a life-threatening electrical emergency in Melbourne, call 000 immediately. For urgent faults like a total blackout, tripping safety switch, or sparking power point, a licensed emergency electrician can generally reach most Melbourne suburbs within 30–60 minutes. If you suspect an area-wide outage, contact CitiPower (inner suburbs) or Powercor (outer suburbs) on 13 17 99 before calling an electrician.
What to do right now
- 1
Ensure immediate safety
Turn off the main switch at your switchboard if you notice sparking, burning smells, or any risk of electric shock. Do not touch exposed wires. Call 000 if someone has been shocked.
- 2
Check if the outage is network-wide
Check with neighbours or look at street lights. Call CitiPower/Powercor on 13 17 99 or visit their outage tracker online. If the outage is on the network side, the distributor will manage the repair.
- 3
Contact a licensed emergency electrician
Find a 24/7 electrician in your Melbourne suburb through Urgent Electrician. Verify they hold a current Victorian electrical licence (REC) and request an upfront quote including any after-hours fees.
- 4
Request a Certificate of Electrical Safety
In Victoria, electricians must issue a Certificate of Electrical Safety (CES) for prescribed electrical work. Make sure you receive this certificate — it is your proof the work is compliant with AS/NZS 3000.
When to call an emergency electrician
- ⚠️Total loss of power to your property while neighbours still have supply
- ⚠️Safety switch tripping repeatedly after resetting
- ⚠️Burning smell or visible scorch marks near power points or switchboard
- ⚠️Water ingress near electrical wiring or switchboard after heavy rain
- ⚠️Flickering lights throughout the house that cannot be explained by appliance use
- ⚠️Electrical fault affecting medical life-support equipment
How much does it cost?
Emergency electrician callout fees in Melbourne generally range from $140 to $280 during business hours. After-hours and weekend rates increase to $250–$480 for the callout alone. Labour is typically $75–$120 per hour on top. A safety switch replacement averages $200–$400, while a full switchboard upgrade can cost $1,800–$4,500. Always get a written quote before authorising any work.