Power out in Sandringham? Work out whose fault it is
Look up and down the street
If the neighbours are dark too, it's a network outage. Report it to United Energy on 13 20 99 and check its outage map. An electrician can't restore it.
Stay well clear of fallen lines
United Energy says to keep more than 10 metres from a fallen powerline and assume it's live. Call 000 if anyone's life is at risk.
Only your house out?
Check your switchboard's safety switches. Reset a tripped one once. If it trips again, or nothing's tripped, call an electrician.
Storm damage to the house
For a damaged roof, fallen tree or water coming in, call the SES on 132 500. Don't switch wet circuits back on until a licensed electrician has checked them.
Sandringham's homes and supply
Holiday homes, then war service houses
Sandringham started as a beach resort with summer homes. The War Service Homes Commission built many houses for ex-servicemen, and in the 1950s the Housing Commission built a large estate of houses for sale.
Foreshore rebuilds
Many of the humbler houses facing the foreshore have been replaced by luxury houses and apartments. At the 2021 Census, 26.8% of homes were flats or apartments and 25.3% were rented.
United Energy's patch
United Energy's 2025 planning report lists a Sandringham zone substation among its 47. Its August 2024 storm update said it was restoring power to more than 3,400 customers.
Jobs that follow Sandringham's mix of houses
Post-war houses usually need the switchboard looked at: a fuse board without safety switches is common in homes this age, and the Asbestos Hub says homes built before 1990 likely contain asbestos somewhere.
Newer apartments bring EV charging questions in shared car parks, and rental checks every 2 years for the flats that are leased.
After a storm, outdoor power points, garden lights and anything a branch hit are the usual repairs.
What we'd do before the next big wind
We'd make sure every circuit in the house sits behind a safety switch, and know where the main switch is and how to reach it in the dark. Then, when a storm does cut the power, you'll know within a minute whether it's a job for United Energy or for an electrician.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.