What Counts as an Electrical Emergency?
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An electrical emergency is anything that puts people or the house at risk right now: fire, smoke, sparks, a burning smell, a shock, or exposed live wiring. If there is fire or someone is hurt, call 000 first. For a serious fault with no fire, switch off safely and call an electrician who works after hours.
Faults, outages and tripping are a regular part of our work: over 300 jobs for home owners in the 12 months to October 2026 involved a fault, no power or a tripping circuit.
Signs that are a true electrical emergency
Some problems cannot wait. If you see or notice any of these, treat it as an emergency:
- Smoke, flames or a burning smell coming from a power point, switch, light or switchboard.
- Sparks, a loud bang or arcing when you plug something in or flick a switch.
- Anyone getting a shock or tingle from an appliance, tap or metal fitting.
- Exposed or damaged wires, especially if they are live or wet.
- A switchboard or power point that is hot, scorched, melted or buzzing.
- Water coming into the switchboard, a light fitting or a power point.
- A power line down on your property.
What to do first
Your safety comes before the house. Follow these steps in order:
- If there is fire, smoke or someone is hurt, get everyone out and call 000.
- If a power line is down on your property, stay well clear and assume it is live. Call SA Power Networks on 13 13 66, or 000 if there is danger to life.
- If it is safe to reach, switch off at the main switch on your switchboard. Do not touch it if the board is wet, burnt or sparking.
- Do not touch anyone who is still in contact with electricity. Switch the power off first.
- Keep people and pets away from the damaged area.
- Call an electrician who works after hours, such as our emergency electrician service, and tell them exactly what you saw and smelt.
Never use water on an electrical fire. Never keep using a power point that has burnt or sparked.
Problems that feel urgent but are not always an emergency
Some faults are a nuisance and worth fixing soon, but do not put anyone in danger. These can usually wait for a booked visit, as long as nothing is hot, burning or sparking:
- A safety switch that trips now and then.
- One power point or one light that has stopped working.
- A flickering light on its own.
- A smoke alarm chirping for a new battery.
- Part of the house without power while the rest is fine.
The grey area: when to call us anyway
If you are unsure, call. A repeated trip (see why your power keeps tripping), a faint burning smell that comes and goes, or a switchboard that is warm to touch is a warning sign. It is far better to have it checked than to wait and find out.
Hoile Electrical is available 24 hours, 7 days a week, including after hours. When you ring 0482 099 388 we will ask you a few simple questions, tell you what to switch off, and arrange a visit.
A power outage is not always your fault
If the whole street is dark, the problem may be with the network and not your house. Check whether your neighbours have power. For outages and electric shocks from the network, SA Power Networks takes calls on 131 366.
If only your house is out and the main switch and safety switches are all up, there may be a fault inside. Our guide on what to check when there is no power to the house walks through it step by step.
What we do when we arrive
A licensed electrician will first make the area safe, then find the cause. In many cases we can isolate the faulty circuit with electrical fault finding and restore power to the rest of the house on the same visit.
If the damage is bigger, such as a burnt switchboard or damaged mains, we will explain what needs replacing and what is safe to leave on in the meantime. Any electrical work that needs a certificate of compliance will have one issued.
How to prevent an emergency
- Make sure your home has working safety switches. The SA Government advises testing them twice a year using the test button.
- Do not overload power boards or double adapters.
- Replace damaged cords and old, cracked power points.
- Have an old switchboard, especially one with ceramic fuses, checked.
- Leave repairs to fixed wiring to a licensed electrician.
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Common questions
When should I call 000 for an electrical problem?
Call 000 if there is a fire, visible flames, heavy smoke, or someone has been hurt by a shock. Get everyone out first. Call an electrician after the emergency services are on their way.
Is a burning smell from a power point an emergency?
Yes, treat it as one. Switch off at the main switch if you can reach it safely, stop using the power point and call an electrician. A burning smell means something is overheating.
Can I stay in the house if the power is out?
Usually yes if nothing is burning or sparking. If the cause is unclear, keep the main switch off and call an electrician. Leave the house if you smell burning or see smoke.
What if my safety switch keeps tripping?
That is rarely an emergency, but it means something is wrong. Unplug appliances and see if it resets. If it still trips, book a visit so the fault can be found.
Do you do emergency callouts in Adelaide?
Yes. We work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across metro Adelaide, with the western suburbs first. Call 0482 099 388.
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