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Bunbury, Western Australia

Electricians in BunburyWhere one tornado damaged 220 homes in under ten minutes.

In Bunbury, a lot of electrical work follows the weather. On 10 May 2024 a tornado damaged 220 homes in South Bunbury, Withers and College Grove in less than ten minutes, and a second storm three weeks later hit 221 more properties. Tell us what's happened and your postcode, and we'll match you with one licence-checked local electrician who does that kind of work, if there's one near you.

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View over Bunbury's rooftops and city centre from Marlston Hill Lookout, with water and the coast in the distance.
Photo: Calistemon, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped

Roof damaged and water inside?

Keep away from wet light fittings, fans and power points, and don't touch anything plugged in near the water. Turn off the main switch only if you can reach it without standing in water, then leave it off. Lines down: Western Power on 13 13 51, and stay at least 8 metres back. Storm damage to the house: SES on 132 500.

What's different about electrical work in Bunbury?

Tornadoes, more than once. The 16 May 2005 tornado cut a track about 10 km long from near Boulters Heights through to Picton, and that day's front left more than 100,000 customers across the South West without power. The 2024 storms came back to some of the same ground, with Picton, East Bunbury and Glen Iris hit in June.

When roof sheets lift, rain gets into ceilings, which is where downlights, fans and their wiring sit. So after a big blow here, the first electrical job is usually a safety check rather than anything new.

Bunbury is also an old town. The municipality dates from 1871, and 358 places in the City of Bunbury are heritage-listed. Older houses can mean older boards and wiring, and that matters when you sell or rent in WA.

Bunbury at a glance

Network: Western Power

Bunbury is on the main South West grid. Outages and fallen lines go to Western Power on 13 13 51, day or night.

Advanced meters

Bunbury is one of the regional centres in Western Power's rollout of more than 1.2 million advanced meters by mid 2027, which can flag faults in the service connection remotely.

Storm record

A tornado in May 2005, another in May 2024, and a second damaging storm in June 2024 that affected 221 properties.

Coastal flooding

When ex-cyclone Alby passed in 1978, Bunbury's sea wall was breached, 100 homes were inundated and 130 people were evacuated.

Fire danger days

When the rating is Extreme or Catastrophic, Western Power won't switch the power back on after an unplanned outage, so it can stay off longer than you'd expect.

The jobs that come up most here

Storm and water checks. Anything that got wet stays off until a licensed electrician has tested it. Storm, flood and surge damage explains what that involves.

Safety switches before a sale or lease. In WA, safety switches must protect every power point and lighting circuit before a title transfers, and rentals need them at the switchboard. On an old board, that can mean a switchboard upgrade.

Smoke alarms. Working, mains-powered and no more than 10 years old before a home is sold or rented. WA's smoke alarm laws has the detail.

Bigger loads. Air conditioning, induction cooking and EV chargers all have to fit within Western Power's standard household supply of 63 amps on single phase, or the contractor applies for more.

What we'd do in Bunbury

After any big storm, we'd walk through the house and look up at the ceilings before flicking switches. A stain or a drip near a light or fan means that circuit stays off until an electrician has checked it. And we'd keep 13 13 51 on the fridge for the next time the lines come down.

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Questions

Straight answers.

The storm damaged my roof. When can the power go back on?

Once a licensed electrician has checked everything the water reached. Western Power looks after its own lines; the wiring inside your home is a job for the electrician.

Who do I call when the power's out in Bunbury?

Western Power, on 13 13 51. If your neighbours have power and you don't, look for a tripped safety switch on your board first, then call an electrician.

How do I check a Bunbury electrician's licence?

Search the WA Online Licence Search. Contractor licence numbers start with EC and electricians' with EW. After the work, you should receive an Electrical Safety Certificate within 28 days.

Ready for a sparky in Bunbury?

Your postcode and a few quick questions, and we look for the licence-checked local specialist for your job.

Related help

Helpful next

Electricians in Western AustraliaEC and EW numbers, the Online Licence Search, the Electrical Safety Certificate and the rules for selling or renting.Storm, flood and surge damageAfter a storm, flood or lightning strike: what not to touch, who to call, and how the power gets back on safely.Emergency electriciansSparks, shocks, burning smells or no power: who to call first, every network's fault line, and what to do next.Switchboard upgradesOld fuses, no safety switches or no room for a charger: when to upgrade and what changes.Smoke alarm laws in Western AustraliaWA's sale and rental trigger, mains power, the 10-year limit, and who's allowed to connect the alarms.How to check an electrician's licenceEvery state's licence register, which number to ask for, and the red flags before work starts.

Where this information comes from

Rules change, so check with your state regulator if something matters to your job. How we write and check these pages.

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