If your power is out in Melbourne, first determine whether it is a network outage or a fault at your property. Call CitiPower or Powercor on 13 17 99 (or Jemena on 13 16 26 for northern suburbs) to check. If only your property is affected, the fault is on your side of the meter — check your switchboard for tripped safety switches or circuit breakers. If you cannot restore power, call a licensed electrician.
What to do right now
- 1
Identify if the outage is area-wide
Check neighbours' lights and street lights. Call your distributor — CitiPower (CBD/inner) or Powercor (west/outer) on 13 17 99, or Jemena (north) on 13 16 26, or AusNet Services (east/outer) on 13 17 99.
- 2
Inspect your switchboard
Check for tripped switches. Reset the main switch and any tripped safety switches or circuit breakers. If a safety switch trips again immediately, an appliance or wiring fault is the likely cause.
- 3
Isolate the faulty circuit or appliance
Turn off all circuit breakers, then turn them on one at a time. If one trips the safety switch, that circuit has a fault. Unplug appliances on that circuit to find the offending device.
- 4
Call a licensed electrician if needed
If you cannot identify or fix the fault, contact a licensed emergency electrician through Urgent Electrician. They can diagnose wiring faults, replace damaged components, and restore your power safely.
When to call an emergency electrician
- ⚠️A safety switch or circuit breaker keeps tripping after resetting
- ⚠️Only your property has lost power and the switchboard appears fine
- ⚠️You notice a burning smell or heat from the switchboard
- ⚠️The outage is affecting medical equipment or life support
- ⚠️Your meter box or service line appears damaged
How much does it cost?
Network outages managed by CitiPower, Powercor, Jemena, or AusNet Services are resolved at no cost to you. If the fault is at your property, expect emergency electrician callout fees of $140–$280 during business hours and $250–$480 after hours in Melbourne. Repair work is charged at $75–$120 per hour. A service fuse replacement costs $150–$300.