Short answer: If only some rooms have lost power, check your switchboard first. A tripped safety switch or circuit breaker is the most common cause, and it’s often triggered by a faulty appliance. If nothing has tripped, but lights are dim, some appliances work and others don’t, or neighbours have the same problem, it could be a supply fault such as a lost phase or a neutral problem. Call Ausgrid on 13 13 88 for supply problems. They’re dangerous, and they’re not something a homeowner should try to fix.
Losing power to part of the house is confusing. The kitchen lights work, but the bedroom’s dark. The TV’s on, but the fridge has stopped. Most of the time the answer is sitting in your switchboard. Sometimes it isn’t, and knowing the difference keeps you safe and saves an unnecessary call-out.
Step 1: Check the switchboard
Find your switchboard. In Inner West houses it’s often in the front hallway, on the front verandah or on a side wall. Open the cover (not the inner panels) and look for anything that’s in the OFF or middle position.
- Safety switch (RCD) tripped: has a T or Test button. One RCD can cover several circuits, so a single trip can black out a whole section of the house.
- Circuit breaker tripped: no test button. Usually caused by an overload or short circuit on that circuit.
- Ceramic fuse blown: in older boards, a fuse may have blown. Don’t rewire or replace ceramic fuses yourself. Call an electrician.
If something has tripped, try resetting it once. If it trips again straight away, follow our step-by-step guide to a tripping safety switch to find the faulty appliance.
Step 2: If nothing has tripped
If every switch is on but part of the house is still dead, think about which of these fits:
Only one room or one power point is dead
This is often a loose connection at a power point, a failed switch, or a fault in one cable run. In older homes, power points are often “daisy-chained”, so one loose connection can kill every outlet further down the line. This needs an electrician. Stop using that circuit if you notice heat, buzzing or a burning smell.
Lights are dim, or some appliances behave strangely
Watch for:
- lights glowing dim or unusually bright
- some appliances not starting, or running weakly
- motors humming but not turning
- some rooms dead while others work, with nothing tripped
These can be signs of a lost phase (in homes with a three-phase supply) or a neutral fault in the supply. A neutral fault is serious. It can cause abnormal voltages that damage appliances and, in some cases, create a shock risk on metal fittings and taps. Switch off sensitive appliances, don’t touch anything that tingles, and call Ausgrid on 13 13 88 straight away.
Your neighbours have the same problem
If neighbours on your side of the street have lost part of their power too, it’s probably a network issue. Report it to Ausgrid and check their outage information. An electrician can’t fix a fault on the street network.
Step 3: Home fault or supply fault?
| What you notice | Likely cause | Who to call |
|---|---|---|
| Safety switch or breaker tripped | Appliance fault, overload or wiring fault in your home | Reset once, then an electrician if it won’t stay on |
| One room or a few outlets dead, nothing tripped | Loose connection, failed switch or outlet | Electrician |
| Dim or very bright lights, odd appliance behaviour | Possible neutral or supply fault | Ausgrid on 13 13 88, then an electrician |
| Neighbours affected too | Network fault | Ausgrid |
| Tingle or shock from taps or metal | Possible serious fault | 000 if anyone’s hurt, then Ausgrid on 13 13 88 |
Ausgrid treats shocks and tingles as electrical emergencies. If someone has been injured, call 000 first.
Who fixes what
Faults inside your home, from the main switch onwards, are a job for a licensed electrician. Faults on the street network are Ausgrid’s job. The service line and connection between the street and your property is in between. Work on it in NSW is done by Ausgrid or by an Accredited Service Provider (ASP) Level 2, depending on the job. Blue Link doesn’t do Level 2 work, but we can find and fix faults inside your home and tell you if the problem is on the supply side.
While you wait
- Keep the fridge and freezer closed to hold the cold in.
- Unplug sensitive electronics if voltage seems abnormal.
- Use torches, not candles.
- Don’t run extension leads from a working circuit to power the dead rooms. You could overload the working circuit.
- If someone at home relies on medical equipment, make sure you’re registered with your electricity retailer for life support, and have a backup plan.
Preventing it next time
Older switchboards with one RCD covering many circuits are the most common reason a single faulty appliance blacks out half a house. A switchboard upgrade that spreads circuits across several RCDs, or uses individual RCBOs, means one fault only affects one circuit.
Part of the house still dead? We trace faults across the Inner West, from Hurlstone Park and Croydon Park to Rozelle and Canada Bay. See our fault finding service, or call 0421 772 661.
Frequently asked questions
Why is half my house without power but the switchboard looks fine?
It could be a loose connection on one circuit, but if lights are dim or appliances behave strangely, it may be a lost phase or neutral fault in the supply. Call Ausgrid on 13 13 88 for supply problems.
Can I replace a blown ceramic fuse myself?
No. Rewiring or replacing fuses is electrical work, and old ceramic fuse boards can expose live parts. Call a licensed electrician.
Is a neutral fault dangerous?
It can be. It can cause abnormal voltages that damage appliances and may create a shock risk on metal fittings. Treat it as urgent and call Ausgrid.
Will Ausgrid charge me to check a supply fault?
Ausgrid investigates network faults and reported shocks and tingles. If the fault turns out to be inside your home, you’ll need a licensed electrician to fix it.