At home

Switch power off at the mains if you smell smoke or if your power is surging (e.g. your lights or appliances are turning on and off).

Turn off all electronic appliances when:

• Your power is surging
• There is a blown fuse
• An appliance comes into contact with water
• Your home is struck by lightning

Be prepared

Electricity faults can happen at any time, with no warning. It’s a good idea to keep the following items handy and to know where to find them in the dark:

• A torch and spare batteries
• A full gas bottle so you can cook using your BBQ
• Some cash, as EFTPOS machines rely on power
• Candles and matches — never light candles near curtains, and never leave them unattended
• A battery-operated radio
• A fully charged cellphone, or a fully charged power bank
• A full tank of petrol in your vehicle
• Bottled water per person — keep it in your freezer so it stays fresh

When the power comes back on

Not everything switches itself back on. Check your appliances have actually restarted — a freezer left off can spoil a whole load of food before anyone notices.

• Check your fridge and freezer are running — look for the light or display, and listen for the motor
• Check the food inside is still frozen or properly cold
• Check your switchboard for tripped switches or RCDs and reset them
• Check your hot water cylinder and heat pump have come back on
• Turn everything else back on one at a time, and reset clocks and timers