Power outages rarely give you advance notice. Whether it’s a storm, an overload on the power grid, or an unexpected equipment failure, power outages constantly disrupt the rhythm at the most inconvenient times. Today’s Perth is no exception. You may be about to start a critical video conference or have just put dinner in the oven when suddenly you find your home plunged into darkness.
But don’t worry; you can still keep track of power outages in Perth in real-time, prepare in advance, and find solutions so that when the lights go out, it’s not a total disaster.
How can I check the current status of a power outage in Perth?
If you want to know about power outages in Perth, you can use these power outage in Perth map and guidance:
Western Power Outage Map: Western Power manages Perth’s electricity network. Its website has a live outage map. Enter your postcode to view current, upcoming, and resolved outages. You can also sign up to receive SMS updates.
Synergy’s Guidance: Synergy is an electricity retailer in Western Australia. Customers can visit the Western Power Outage Page and enter their postcode to view planned or unplanned outages.
What parts of Perth are most affected by frequent power outages?
Perth Power outages can happen anywhere, but some areas have more outages than others. This is because some areas have older infrastructure, more plants, and power lines that run through them. The following areas often have power outages:
Hills & Outer-Eastern parts
These areas often experience tree-related outages, wind damage, or longer restoration times due to terrain and line distances:
- Kalamunda
- Lesmurdie
- Mundaring
- Darlington
- Roleystone
- Sawyers Valley
Vegetation-Dense parts
Areas with older powerlines and heavy tree coverage are vulnerable to branches falling during storms:
- Bayswater
- Bassendean
- Victoria Park
- Armadale (foothills area)
Semi-Rural & Fringe Metro parts
Due to long feeder lines and less robust infrastructure, these areas often face longer downtimes:
- Byford
- Serpentine
- Chittering
- Gidgegannup
- Wanneroo (outer parts)
- The Vines / Ellenbrook outskirts
Coastal & Storm-Exposed Areas
Storms coming off the coast can cause wind and salt-related faults:
- Fremantle
- Rockingham
- Kwinana
- Two Rocks
How to Report a Power Cut in Perth?
Several electricity distribution companies manage power outages in Victoria, Australia. To report a power outage, follow these steps:
Identify Your Electricity Distributor: Your electricity distributor is responsible for maintaining the power supply to your area. You can find their contact information on your electricity bill or by using the Energy Victoria website.
Contact Your Distributor: use the contact method below to report the outage:
- AusNet Services: Call 13 17 99 or report online through their fault report form.
- CitiPower: Call 13 12 80 or report a fault using their online tool.
- Powercor: Call 13 24 12 or use the same online fault report tool.
- United Energy: Call 13 20 99 or report outages via their online reporting system.
Jemena: Call 13 16 26 or check for outages on their electricity outages page.
What causes power outages?
Blackout can happen suddenly for many reasons. Here are the most common power outage causes:
- Stormy Weather: Storms, high winds, lightning, heavy rain, and hail can damage power lines, transformers, and utility poles.
- Trees and Vegetation: Overgrown trees or branches can fall in storms.
- Bushfires: Power companies may deliberately cut power in conditions with a high fire risk.
- Wildlife: Birds, possums, snakes, or other small animals can enter substations or climb utility poles and accidentally trip equipment.
- Equipment Failure: Ageing or overloaded infrastructure, such as transformers, cables, and switches, may wear out, overheat, or malfunction mechanically.
- Accidental Damage: For example, excavators, cranes, or even cars hitting utility poles can damage underground or overhead lines.
- Grid Overload: During peak demand periods, the power grid may become overloaded, triggering power restrictions or rolling blackouts.
Power outage preparation tips in Perth
Connect a Backup Power Generator
A standby generator is a great way to stay connected to electricity during a power outage. If the power outage duration is longer than 24 hours, a reliable generator can keep your fridge, lights, and internet running. Start your generator early to get your appliances going again. If you have a petrol or diesel generator, use it outside the house. If you want a quieter, more indoor-friendly option, consider a battery-powered generator like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station. It’s better for the environment and healthier for you.
Prepare the Food
During a power outage, refrigerated and frozen foods spoil the fastest. Stock up in advance on non-perishable foods that require no cooking or only minimal cooking to be eaten, such as bread, peanut butter, nuts, and energy bars. Also, try to reduce the number of times you open and close the refrigerator to keep the temperature low inside. Freezing a few bottles of water and putting them in the inner part of the refrigerator can also help slow down food spoilage during a power outage. Having 2-3 litres of water per person is also a good idea.
Charge Your Devices
There’s nothing worse than being prepared for everything and only finding that the backup batteries are dead when you need them most.
Don’t wait until the lights go out to discover your phone running out of power. Before the power goes out, fully charge your mobile phone, tablet, laptop, and power bank. Communication devices, in particular, can help you get information and contact friends and family in an emergency. If you have power station or solar chargers, get them ready if the power goes out for a long time.
Fuel up Vehicle
Many gas stations cannot operate during power outages, so don’t wait until your tank is empty to fill up. Filling up your car in advance will make it easier to travel in an emergency and allow you to charge your phone, power generator, etc., if necessary, making it a “mobile power station”.
What products can help users stay powered during blackouts?
The whole city goes dark, but your place stays bright, and your stuff keeps on working. Thanks to portable energy storage tech, this is not just a dream; it’s a reality.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station
This device is designed to handle the effects of a severe power outage. The EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station has a base capacity of up to 3.6kWh, which can be expanded to 25kWh, enough to support the continuous operation of small appliances to high-power equipment. It’s got a 3,600W pure sine wave inverter that can power high-power equipment like refrigerators, microwaves, kettles, and even electric vehicles. It also has many charging options (solar, mains, car, etc.). It can be controlled remotely with an innovative app, making it a great combo of emergency energy storage and daily electricity use.
EcoFlow NextGen 220W Bifacial Portable Solar Panel
EcoFlow’s new double-sided portable solar panel is the perfect the emergency generator for house. It has a front-side power generation efficiency of 220W and absorbs reflected light from the back to increase the overall charging efficiency by up to 25%. It’s lightweight, foldable, waterproof, and durable, so it’s great for outdoor camping, garden backup, or any temporary power supply needs. Using it with the DELTA Pro can turn sunlight into a steady and long-lasting source of electricity.
Conclusion
Power outages don’t have to be a problem. If you look for information about them, create a preparedness checklist, and choose a trusted backup power solution, you can create a “business as usual” safety zone for your family.
Future power outages in Perth may still come suddenly, but you’ll be better prepared for power outages to face any dark times.
FAQs
How Long Does Most Power Outage Last in Perth?
According to a report by Western Power, people in Perth experience an average of about 2 hours of power outages per year, with only 14.1 minutes in the central business district (CBD), while rural regional areas experience about 3.5 hours and rural remote areas even more, up to about 12 hours. Most blackouts end almost immediately after they occur, but some power outage duration can last for days or weeks.
What animal causes the most power outages?
In Perth, our little possum friends often use the power lines above to get around, but sometimes they accidentally touch the high-voltage lines and, well, you know what that means… power outages! And it’s not just possums, birds can also be a bit naughty and cause power outages.
Who is most affected by power outages?
It’s always important to be kind to the elderly, chronically ill, and young children, who find it challenging when the power goes out. When it’s hot, older people and little ones are more likely to suffer from heat stroke or dehydration. And for those who rely on medical equipment, power outages can be life-threatening.