How to Shut Off Power Before Calling an Emergency Electrical Service

According to Energy Safe Victoria, electrical faults cause over 300 house fires across the state every year. That’s hundreds of homes damaged or destroyed and lives put at risk all because of electrical issues that escalate quickly.

When you’re facing an electrical emergency, the way you react in those first few seconds matters. One wrong move can lead to an electric shock, electrical fire, or further damage to your home’s electrical system. While your first instinct may be to grab the phone and call a professional, there’s something just as critical: turn off the power immediately if it’s safe to do so.

Shutting off your main power switch can stop danger in its tracks. It helps protect not just your home, but your family, pets, and anyone nearby. It also makes it safer for the emergency electrician or emergency services who’ll arrive to fix the issue.

When to Shut Off Power: Identifying Urgent Electrical Fault

In some cases, cutting the power supply quickly can prevent a crisis. Here are clear warning signs that mean it’s time to turn off the power straight away:

• A burning smell coming from power outlets or electrical appliances
• Sparking sounds or visible sparks from a power board, light fixture, or electrical circuit
• Flickering lights during a thunderstorm or high winds
• Water contact near electrical wiring, power points, or the switchboard
• Smoke, overheating, or melted plastic near the circuit breaker, power switch, or electrical fittings

These signs point to a potential electrical hazard, and acting fast can reduce the risk of an electrical fire, electric shock, or damage to your home’s energy supply.

However, not every incident needs an immediate shutdown. A single circuit breaker failure from overloaded circuits or a tripped safety switch might just mean too many devices plugged into one power board. In this case, unplugging a few items and resetting the GFCI outlets may be enough.

The key is staying calm. Panicking in an electrical emergency can lead to poor decisions and increase the danger. If unsure, always play it safe, call emergency services, then wait at a safe distance.

Get to Know Your Switchboard Before Trouble Hits

Yourswitchboardis the heart of your home’s electrical system, where your entire power supply is controlled. In most Australian homes, it’s located on an exterior wall, inside the garage, or in a hallway cupboard.

A typical switchboard includes:

• Main switch: Cuts power to the entire home
• Circuit breakers: Controls separate electrical circuits such as lighting, kitchen, and air conditioning
• Safety switches (also known as RCDs): Designed to shut off electricity instantly if a fault is detected
• Fuses: Found in older homes, these protect against overloads and power surges

Before touching anything, follow these safety basics:

• Stand on dry ground, never near puddles or conductive materials
• Use a torch, not a lighter or flame
• Keep hands dry and avoid leaning on metal surfaces
• Don’t try to fix, reset, or remove anything

Familiarising yourself with your electrical wiring layout before something goes wrong can help you stay calm and make smart choices. If your home still has outdated wiring or you’ve noticed defective wiring, it’s time to book an inspection with a qualified electrician.

Learning how to safely operate the main power switch now can mean the difference between staying safe and facing a full-blown power outage, electric shock, or worse. Especially during storms or load shedding, knowing where everything is makes reacting quickly easier without adding risk.

And remember, the electricity distributor or local power company manages downed power lines or supply issues, not individual household switchboards.

Step-by-Step: How to Safely Shut Off Power

Here’s a step-by-step guide to safely shut off power during an electrical emergency:

Locate your switchboard

Know in advance where your switchboard is. Don’t wait until you’re in the middle of a power failure or smelling smoke.

Check surroundings

Look for signs of heat, fire, orexposed wires. If you see flames or melted plastic, don’t approach. Get everyone out and call emergency services.

Stand safely

Make sure you’re standing on dry ground and not touching conductive materials like metal pipes. Grab a torch if visibility is low.

Identify the main switch

This is usually the largest switch, often labelled “Main.” It cuts power to the entire house.

Flip the main switch to ‘Off’

Use firm but gentle pressure. If it’s stuck, don’t force it forcing can cause further damage.

Turn off individual circuits if safe

For localised issues like a sparking electrical appliance or light fixture, you may only need to shut off one circuit breaker, but only if you’re sure it’s safe to do so.

Avoid assumptions

Don’t assume power is off just because the lights go out. Double-check the main switch position and avoid the affected area completely.

Always treat electrical issues as extremely dangerous, especially if they involve high voltage, overloaded circuits, or defective wiring. Never attempt emergency electrical work yourself.

What to Do After Power Is Off: Your Next Safe Move

Once the power source has been shut off, your priority is staying safe. Resist the urge to inspect or fix anything yourself

Here’s what to do next:

• Stay away from the affected area, especially if there’s a burning smell or heat
• Open windows to ventilate if there’s smoke, but don’t use fans or electrical appliances
• Keep others, including pets, clear of danger zones
• Write down what happened, including smells, sounds, and visible signs

When contacting an emergency electrician, these notes help speed up diagnosis and reduce the risk of further damage.

Never attempt to reset safety switches, circuit breakers, or reconnect power until a licensed electrician has assessed everything. Doing so risks reigniting an electrical fire or triggering a new power outage.

If someone has been injured, provide first aid and call emergency services immediately.

When NOT to Touch the Switchboard

There are situations where even getting close to the switchboard can be deadly.

Do not touch it if:

• It’s in contact with water or flood-affected (you may be standing on conductive materials)
• There are flames, smoke, or signs of melting plastic
• You hear popping, hissing, or see arcing
• Someone has suffered an electric shock
  

In any of these cases, leave the premises immediately and call emergency services. Alert neighbours if needed and wait for help outside.

While waiting:

• Stay outside and well away from the building
• Warn others not to enter the affected area
• Avoid going near fallen power lines or downed power poles
• Never try to remove debris near the switchboard, even with a non-conductive object

When in doubt, always assume the situation is extremely dangerous. Let emergency services and a professional electrician handle the risk.

What to Do If an Electrical Fire Breaks Out

Cut the Power If It’s Safe

If an electrical fire starts, your first move is to turn off the power at the main switch, but only if it’s safe to approach the switchboard. If there are flames, thick smoke, or exposed wires, keep your distance and skip to the next step.

Use the Right Type of Extinguisher

If safe to do so, use a fire extinguisher specifically rated for electrical fires (Class C or dry chemical). Don’t use water, as it can worsen the situation by conducting electricity, leading to electric shock or spreading the fire.

Call for Help and Evacuate

Immediately call emergency services, then evacuate everyone from the property. Warn others and avoid contact with electrical appliances, power boards, or power outlets as you exit.

Stay Clear and Inform Authorities

Once outside, keep clear of the building and any power lines, especially if there’s visible damage or downed power. Contact your local power company or electricity provider if the fire has spread to external power lines or poles.

Let the Professionals Take Over

Only a qualified electrician or emergency crew should inspect or repairelectrical wiring after a fire. Never go back inside until local authorities confirm it’s safe to do so.

Preventing Future Electrical Emergencies

Avoiding future electrical emergencies starts with proactive care.

• Book regular inspections with a licensed electrician, especially in homes with outdated wiring
• Install surge protection and modern safety switches
• Replace defective wiring and upgrade circuit breakers as needed
• Learn your switchboard layout in advance, it’ll help you act quickly during a power failure
• Avoid overloaded circuits by spreading out devices across multiple power boards
• Keep areas around power outlets and power lines dry and clutter-free
• Know how to contact your local power company or electricity provider in emergencies

Being prepared reduces the risk of surprise power outages, electrical shocks, or costly emergency electrical work.

When to Call a Professional

In a real electrical emergency, being prepared makes all the difference. Knowing how and when to shut off your home’s power supply helps prevent electrical fires, injuries, and long-term electrical system damage.

Quick, informed decisions like turning off the main power switch can protect lives and property without panic.

Even with the best preparation, some electrical emergencies are beyond your control. That’s when calling in a qualified electrician becomes essential.

Need Help Fast? Sydney’s Trusted Emergency Electricians Are Just a Call Away.

Emergencies don’t wait for business hours, and neither should you, whether it’s a late-night power outage, a fallen power line, or a sparking power point. Bright Force Electrical offers rapid, professional support any time, day or night.

Their team of licensed electricians are trained to handle complex electrical issues with care, precision, and speed. From faulty wiring and circuit breaker failures to urgent electrical work and load shedding assistance, they’ve got your back.

Stay safe, avoid guesswork, and trust a team that puts your family’s safety first. When danger strikes, help is just a phone call away.