Power Surges & Interruptions

If the lights in your home go dim

Dim lights mean less power is reaching your home than normal. Turn off all appliances with electric motors so the low voltage does not damage them.

What to do in a power interruption:

• Turn off all appliances with electric motors so the low voltage does not damage them.
• Use a torch rather than candles for light. A torch is safer than candles, which can be knocked over and may cause a fire.
• Keep a transistor radio with fully charged batteries handy. During major storms, if power is lost, listen to your local radio station as ENERGEX gives damage and power restoration reports through various radio stations.
• If any trees or branches have been blown down onto powerlines, or powerlines have been brought down, contact ENERGEX's emergency number on 13 62 62 immediately and stay away.

Power surges

A power surge is a rapid, temporary increase in voltage in powerlines near your home. Many things beyond the control of ENERGEX including, nearby lightning strikes or major electricity users switching power on or off can cause surges.

Power surges can permanently damage delicate electrical and electronic equipment in your home. Surges are difficult to insure against, therefore the best protection for important electrical equipment is "surge protectors".

Surge protection is different from a safety switch. A safety switch protects you and your family from electrocution, but will not stop "damaging shocks" to delicate electronic equipment such as computers when a power surge occurs. To protect electronic equipment or equipment that relies on delicate computer components, you should have surge protectors. Surge protectors can come in several different forms, such as, surge diverters, power point protectors or portable protectors.

Surge diverters: are installed in the main switchboard by a qualified electrician.