When the lights go out in Perth, it’s never convenient — and it’s not always clear what caused it. Is it just your house? The whole street? Something to do with your switchboard? Or maybe a wider Western Power outage?
Knowing what to check — and who to call — can save you time, money, and a lot of unnecessary stress. Whether it’s a planned maintenance shutdown or an unexpected blackout, it’s good to know what you need to do, and how to access the Western Power outage map.
What to Do in a Power Outage
When your power cuts out suddenly, here’s what we recommend:
- Stay calm and safe — avoid using candles if possible (use torches or lanterns instead)
- Turn off sensitive electronics like TVs, modems and gaming consoles to protect them from surges when power returns
- Keep your fridge and freezer closed to maintain temperature
- Check with neighbours — if they’ve lost power too, it’s likely a network issue
- Look outside — are street lights off? Is the whole block dark? That points to a wider Western Power outage
If the outage is just in your home, it might be something you can solve by checking your switchboard. More on that below.
Is It Just My House or a Wider Western Power Outage?
Before jumping on the phone to Western Power or calling our electrician team, it helps to do a quick check:
Start with your switchboard
- Have your RCDs or safety switches tripped? If so, try resetting them. If they trip again straight away, you may have a faulty appliance or wiring issue — call our team for help
- Fuses blown or main switch off? This could also point to an internal issue.
Still no power, and everything looks fine in the switchboard?
- Check with your neighbours.
- Are nearby homes also out? Streetlights off? That usually means a Western Power outage is affecting your area.
How Do I Find Out if There’s an Outage in My Area?
Western Power and Synergy both offer tools to check whether there’s an outage near you — whether it’s planned or unexpected.
Western Power Outage Map
This map shows current outages across WA, estimated restoration times, and the number of homes affected. It updates regularly and includes both planned and unplanned outages. You can also report an issue here if it hasn’t yet been logged.
Synergy Power Outage Map
Synergy links through to Western Power’s updates, but also helps you check your account if you’re unsure whether the outage is supply-related or due to a billing/disconnection issue. While Synergy doesn’t control the poles and wires, it’s still worth checking your account to rule out other causes.
Understanding Planned Outages
Not all power cuts are emergencies. Sometimes, Western Power needs to turn off the electricity to safely carry out maintenance, upgrade infrastructure, or install new equipment.
If you’re affected by a planned Western Power outage, you should receive a notice:
- By SMS or email (if you’ve registered your details – if you haven’t, you need to click on the box at the lower right corner of the Western Power Outage Map to register for SMS notifications
- Or via a letter in your mailbox at least a few days in advance
What to do
- Make a note of the date and time
- Plan around it (charge devices, prep food early, avoid opening the fridge)
- Let others in your home know, especially if they rely on medical devices (and note – if you rely on medical equipment for life support, you need to register with Synergy so they can prioritise restoring your power first)You can also search planned outages on the Western Power Outage Map if you misplace the letter or message.
How Long Do Western Power Outages Usually Last?
Most unplanned outages in Perth are back on within a couple of hours, since Western Power prioritises getting the network stable again before anything else. Storm-related outages can run longer, sometimes the best part of a day, if crews need to physically repair damaged lines or replace a pole. Planned outages are usually shorter and more predictable, generally two to four hours, since Western Power schedules them for off-peak times and gives advance notice.
If your outage has gone on for hours longer than the estimate on the Western Power outage map, it’s worth checking in on their updates directly rather than assuming it’ll resolve on its own.
Can You Claim Compensation for a Western Power Outage?
If an outage runs longer than the guaranteed service standard, Western Power does offer a payment under their customer service guarantees, though it depends on the cause and how long the outage lasted. We’ve put together a full breakdown of how to claim for an extended Western Power outage, including what qualifies and how to lodge it.
Contact P Herman & Co if you’d rather have someone check your switchboard and safety switches are all in order once the power’s back on.
Who to Contact (and When)
If your power is out and you’ve ruled out a tripped RCD or blown fuse, here’s who to call:
Western Power – Faults & Emergencies
13 13 51 (available 24/7)
Use this for reporting:
- Powerlines down
- Network faults
- Urgent unplanned outages
You can also report online
Synergy – Account or Billing Enquiries
13 13 53 (Monday–Friday)
Use this if:
- You’ve received a disconnection warning
- You’re unsure if the outage is due to your account
- You want to check your customer information
Local Electrician – P Herman and Co
0412 479 969
Call us if:
- Your RCD keeps tripping and won’t reset
- There’s no visible outage, but your home still has no power
- You’ve experienced a power surge and suspect damage
- You want to install surge protection, inspect your switchboard, or test your safety switches after an outage
We’re Perth locals and always happy to take a look.
Final Tip: Don’t DIY Your Power Problems
If you’re not sure what’s causing the issue, don’t poke around in your switchboard or try to “test” the power with appliances. After any Western Power outage, it’s always worth checking:
- Are your safety switches working properly?
- Is there a burnt smell near outlets or wiring?
- Did your appliances survive the surge?
If something doesn’t feel right — get in touch. We’ll inspect, test, and make sure everything’s safe before you flick everything back on.
Need help after a Synergy or Western Power outage?
Call the team at P Herman and Co – trusted Perth sparkies for over 35 years.
We’re here when you need us — before, during, or after the blackout.