The Inner West, electrically
One council, many suburbs
Inner West Council formed in 2016 from Ashfield, Leichhardt and Marrickville councils. Its suburbs include Annandale, Balmain, Dulwich Hill, Haberfield, Newtown, Petersham, Rozelle, Stanmore and Summer Hill.
Ausgrid
Council says Ausgrid manages powerline clearing across the area. Faults and fallen lines: 13 13 88.
Heritage everywhere
Conservation zones protect much of the housing, including Haberfield's garden suburb begun in 1901. A council review recommended nine new heritage conservation areas and three extended ones.
Units and renters
Across the council area in 2021, 42.4% of homes were flats and 43.8% were rented.
Very little solar
In 2021 council put rooftop solar at 7% of listed dwellings, against 25% statewide.
Solar in heritage conservation areas
Panels on a street-facing roof in a conservation area must follow council's Solar Panels Policy on Front Roof Planes and sit flush, without poking above the ridge or past the eaves. Panels on other roof planes fall under the state's Transport and Infrastructure planning policy.
Frames and brackets should be dark and non-reflective to sit with slate or dark terracotta. Settle the panel layout before the electrician plans the inverter and switchboard work.
Matching the job to the house
Terraces and cottages: old cabling, few circuits, and boards squeezed into narrow halls. Federation homes and bungalows: extensions wired at different times by different people. Unit blocks: strata approval for chargers and questions about shared supply.
Whichever you're in, we'll match one licence-checked electrician who does that kind of job, if we have one near you.
What we'd do first
Whatever the era, find out what's behind the walls before you choose fittings. In Inner West houses, the age of the wiring decides the size of almost every job, from new downlights to a kitchen.
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.