Common Problems with Electrical Storm Damage in Sydney and How We Fix Them

What does a storm actually do to your home's electrical system? The same five problems account for most of the storm callouts we attend across Sydney: local power loss, surge damage to appliances, water in the switchboard or mains, safety switches that will not reset, and damaged overhead service lines. Each has a specific fix, and knowing which one you are looking at tells you who to call and how urgent it is.

⚡ Quick Answers: storm damage problems

• The whole street is out. Is that my problem? No, that is a network outage. Report it to Ausgrid on 13 13 88 or Endeavour Energy on 131 003 and wait it out safely.
• Only my house is out. Now is it my problem? Quite possibly. A damaged service line, wet switchboard or tripped main protection is on your side and usually needs an electrician, often a Level 2 ASP.
• My safety switch will not reset after the storm. Should I keep trying? No. Repeated resetting into a fault makes things worse. It is telling you moisture or damage is still in the system.
• Can a storm damage appliances without cutting power? Yes. Lightning and unstable supply cause surges that quietly destroy electronics while the lights stay on.
• Who fixes a damaged service line? A Level 2 electrician. The network makes it safe, but the repair on your side is private work.

1. Power loss during or after the storm

Losing supply mid storm can be a grid problem or a local one. If neighbours are out too, it is the network's fault to fix. If your place is the only one dark, the likely culprits are a damaged service line, water in the board or tripped protection, and the diagnosis path is covered in our guide to what to do in a Sydney power outage. Not sure which network you are on? Check your network area in seconds with our postcode checker.

2. Power surges and fried appliances

Lightning strikes and faults on storm damaged lines push voltage spikes through your wiring. Cheap powerboards do little against a serious surge; protection that actually works sits at the switchboard. If you have lost electronics to a storm, whole of board surge protection is the upgrade that stops the sequel, usually fitted during a switchboard upgrade.

3. Water in the switchboard or mains

Heavy rain finds its way into ageing boards, meter enclosures and underground pits, where it causes arcing, short circuits and corrosion that keeps giving long after the storm. The one rule: do not re-energise a wet board. Our new guide on water in your switchboard after a storm explains the inspect, dry, test and replace process in full.

4. Safety switches that trip and will not reset

A safety switch that keeps tripping after a storm is almost always responding to moisture in a circuit, a damaged appliance or water in a fitting. It is protecting you, not malfunctioning. Unplug appliances and try once; if it trips again, stop and book an electrician. The wet weather version of this pattern has its own guide: safety switch tripping after rain.

5. Damaged overhead service lines

Wind, branches and debris punish the line between the street and your roof, especially where UV has already aged the insulation. Sagging, swinging or exposed cable is an emergency, and a line on the ground means staying 8 metres back, as our guide to fallen power lines explains. Repairs to the service line are Level 2 work through our overhead service mains team.

How we fix storm damage, step by step

First, emergency make safe: 24/7 across Sydney, we secure live hazards, isolate what must be isolated and coordinate with Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy where the network side is involved. Second, testing: switchboard, service mains and circuits are checked for moisture, insulation breakdown and voltage problems rather than guessed at. Third, repair: from storm damage repairs and rewiring to a full switchboard replacement with surge protection. Fourth, paperwork: if the damage drew a defect notice, our defect rectification service completes the work and lodges the compliance documentation, and we provide reports for insurance claims.

Storm proofing before the next one

The cheapest storm repair is the one you never need: surge protection at the board, trees kept clear of your service line (see who is responsible for vegetation clearance), old ceramic fuses replaced with modern safety switches, and a periodic electrical safety inspection to catch deterioration while it is still cheap. Our storm season guide covers why Sydney's summer storms hit electrical systems so hard.

How High Demand Electrical helps

We are Level 2 ASPs working across both Sydney networks, which means one team can make safe, test, repair the service line, replace the board and handle the distributor paperwork without handing you between contractors. We attend storm damage 24/7 and prioritise homes with no supply, live hazards or vulnerable occupants.

Storm Damage FAQs (Sydney)

My power is out but the neighbours are fine. Who do I call?

That pattern points to your service line, board or protection rather than the grid, so an electrician is the right first call. If wires are down or hanging, treat it as an emergency and stay clear.

Does insurance cover electrical storm damage?

Storm damage is commonly covered, and insurers rely on an electrician's report to establish cause and scope. Our make safe visits produce exactly that documentation.

Is a burning smell after a storm an emergency?

Yes. Turn off the main switch if it is safe to reach, get everyone out if the smell is strong, and call 000 for fire or us for an emergency response. Do not wait to see if it passes.

Should I get the house checked even if everything seems fine?

After a direct lightning strike nearby, flooding, or visible damage to the service line, yes. Hidden surge and moisture damage shows up weeks later, and an inspection is far cheaper than a fire investigation.

Storm damage? Get it made safe today

Book a storm damage repair or call 0402 559 777, 24/7. Every job starts with a site assessment so the scope and pricing are confirmed before work begins.