If half the house has gone dark but the neighbours still have lights, start at your switchboard, then check whether Ausgrid has a fault in your street. Here is the order to check things in, and the point where you stop and call an electrician on 0450 406 450, 24/7 across Newcastle and Lake Macquarie.
When half the house loses power, and the neighbours still have lights, the most common cause is a single safety switch that has tripped, because most switchboards split the circuits between two or more of them. If nothing on the board has tripped, the cause is usually a breaker that failed without tripping, a burnt connection in the switchboard, or a lost phase on a three-phase supply, which can sit on Ausgrid’s side or yours. Those need an emergency electrician or Ausgrid, not more switch flicking.
“Stop and get help now if you notice any of these”
- A burning smell, or a switchboard or meter box that’s hot, buzzing or scorched. Stay away from it and call 0450 406 450.
- Lights much brighter or dimmer than normal, appliances acting strangely, or a tingle from a tap. Turn off the main switch if the board is dry and safe to reach, and call Ausgrid on 13 13 88.
- A powerline down or sparking in the street. Stay well clear and call Ausgrid on 13 13 88. If anyone is hurt, call 000.
First, Is It Just You?
Look outside. Are the streetlights on? Do the houses on either side have lights?
If the whole street is dark, it’s a network outage. Check Ausgrid’s outage map or call 13 13 88, which is answered 24/7. There’s nothing to fix at your switchboard.
If the neighbours have power and you only have some of yours, the cause is usually at your place. Ausgrid’s own power outage advice says that when you have power to some parts of your property, the problem could be inside your home. One exception: homes with a three-phase supply can lose part of their power because of a fault in the street. More on that below.
At the Switchboard: What to Look For Without Touching Anything Inside
Take a torch. Open only the outer door of the switchboard. Don’t remove any covers.
A Tripped Safety Switch or Breaker
Look for any switch that’s down or sitting halfway. Safety switches have a “T” or “Test” button. In most homes, two or more safety switches share the circuits, so one trip can take out the kitchen and half the lights while the rest of the house carries on. Push it fully off, then back on, once. If it stays on, you’re done. If it trips straight away, leave it off. This guide on a safety switch that keeps tripping shows how to find the cause.
The Main Switch
Check that the main switch is fully on. Some homes have more than one main switch; for example, one for the house and one for off-peak hot water or a granny flat. In a three-phase home, the main switch is often three switches joined together.
Units and Townhouses
In a unit, the breakers may be inside your front door, but your meter and main switch are often in a shared meter room. One Jesmond enquiry simply said: “Unit has no power, need someone ASAP.” If the board inside the unit looks normal, the fault may be in the meter room. Your strata manager or building manager can give access. Don’t go into a locked meter room on your own.
When Half the House Is Out but Nothing Has Tripped
If every switch is up and part of the house is still dead, it’s no longer a reset job.
A Lost Phase on the Supply
Three-phase homes get power on three separate lines, and the circuits are spread across them. If one line fails, the circuits on it go dead while the rest keep working. The break can be in Ausgrid’s equipment in the street, in the service line to your house, or in your meter box or main switch. Call Ausgrid first. If they find nothing on their side, it needs an electrician.
A Failed Main Connection or Neutral
A loose or burnt connection at the main switch or meter can cut power to part of the house. A broken neutral is more serious. Signs include lights that glow brighter or dimmer than usual, appliances behaving strangely, or a tingle from a tap. That’s a shock risk. Turn off the main switch if the board is dry and safe to reach, and call Ausgrid on 13 13 88 straight away.
A Breaker That Failed Without Tripping
Breakers can fail inside, so the lever looks on, but no power gets through. A burnt connection behind a breaker does the same. Both need testing with instruments and a replacement part. If your board is old or crowded, it may be time to look at a switchboard upgrade.
Mistakes That Make It Worse
When half the house works, it’s tempting to make do. Don’t.
“What Not to Do”
- Don’t run extension leads from the working rooms to the fridge or freezer on the dead side. Overloaded leads overheat.
- Don’t keep resetting a safety switch or breaker that trips straight away.
- Don’t open the switchboard cover or the meter box.
- Don’t touch taps, appliances or metal fittings that gave you a tingle.
Who Fixes What: Ausgrid vs Your Electrician
Ausgrid is responsible for the electricity network in the street. Beyond Ausgrid’s connection point, the electrical equipment on your property is the owner’s responsibility, and repairs there need a licensed electrical contractor.
In practice: street outages, fallen lines and faults on Ausgrid’s poles and service lines are Ausgrid’s job, on 13 13 88. Your switchboard, breakers, safety switches, wiring and any private poles on your land are an electrician’s job. If you’re not sure which side the fault is on, an electrician can test and tell you, and will deal with Ausgrid if it’s on their side.
What an Emergency Callout Involves
When you call, I’ll ask what’s working, what’s not, and what the switchboard shows, so I can tell you whether it’s safe to wait or needs someone tonight.
- Check the switchboard and meter box for heat, damage, or tripped devices.
- Test the supply coming in at the meter and main switch to see which side the fault is on.
- Restore power to the circuits that are safe, so the fridge and lights come back on where possible.
- Repair the fault, or make it safe until parts or Ausgrid can finish the job.
- Test everything before leaving.
If the problem keeps coming back, it’s worth a full fault-finding visit in daylight.
“Power problems sorted, day or night” note=”24/7 for urgent faults · Licensed electrician · Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland”Same-day visits for faults that can wait until morning, and after-hours response when they can’t. Partial outages, tripped boards and burnt connections across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Maitland.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would half my house lose power when nothing has tripped?
The usual causes are a breaker that has failed without tripping, a burnt connection at the switchboard or meter, or, in a three-phase home, one supply phase failing. Each needs testing by an electrician, or Ausgrid if the fault is in the street.
Is a partial power outage Ausgrid’s problem or mine?
If the whole street is out, it’s Ausgrid’s. If only part of your house is out and the neighbours are fine, it’s usually inside your property. Three-phase homes are the exception, because a fault in the street can take out just one phase.
Can I run extension leads from the rooms that still have power?
Not for long, and not for the fridge, freezer or heaters. Extension leads carrying heavy loads overheat. Get the fault fixed instead.
Is it dangerous if my lights are brighter or dimmer than normal?
It can be. Unusually bright or dim lights, especially with appliances acting strangely or a tingle from a tap, can mean a neutral fault. Turn off the main switch if it’s safe to reach and call Ausgrid on 13 13 88.
Check the Street, Check the Board, Then Call
Most half-house outages are a tripped safety switch. The ones that aren’t need testing, not guessing. Check the street, check the board once, and stop at the warning signs. If part of your Newcastle or Lake Macquarie home is still dark, call 0450 406 450, any hour.
