Planned power outages
We will let you know if any of our planned outages affect your property as soon as possible by email or SMS or a letter to your home or business. A planned outage may not impact every street in a suburb or even every house. So we only notify those who will be affected. To update your notification preference, please call us on 13 10 87.
Generally, we should start and finish our work during the times listed on your notification but sometimes it can take up to 2 hours to switch off the power safely, which means your power might go off later than the notified start time.
If we come across problems during the work, there could be a delay in switching your power back on. Also, work may be cancelled without notice for several reasons including safety, weather and faults. If this happens, we will endeavour to contact you.
You can stay up to date with outages affecting your area, including power restoration times, by visiting our power outages page.
Yes, your contact details are provided to us by your retailer, so it’s really important you keep them up to date with your email address, mobile number and postal address details. Your retailer is the company that sends your electricity bill.
Once your details are up to date, contact us on 13 10 87 to update your notification preference.
If you have a temporary or ongoing medical dependency on electricity, we recommend that you discuss this with your doctor and your electricity retailer.
Generators may be provided to priority essential service customers (for example hospitals and aged care facilities) and those with life support equipment in their home.
If you would like us to consider your situation, please contact us on 13 10 87 before the planned outage.
Compensation is not available if we have notified you of the planned outage in advance. Don’t forget to check your email inbox if that is your preferred method of notification.
If for some reason you weren’t notified of the planned outage, you are entitled to make a claim.
It could be that our network information for your property isn’t accurate.
Please call us on 13 13 51 if this happens. We will check that your property is mapped correctly.
Also, work may be cancelled at short notice for several reasons including safety, weather and faults. If this happens, we will endeavour to contact you.
Information and tips for how to prepare:
- If you have a monitored security alarm without a backup battery or other equipment such as a lift, you may like to consult with your service provider, or investigate the use of a generator
- Cordless phones do not operate without mains power so we recommend having an alternative phone available
- Power fluctuations may occur when power is restored, so it’s helpful to unplug sensitive appliances prior to and for the duration of the outage, for example computers and TVs to reduce the risk of damage
- Unplug electric heaters or air conditioners so they are off when power is restored
- Adjust your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting
- If you have solar panels, you may wish to check that your system is back on after the outage. Not all solar inverters will switch back on automatically after a power outage
- If you have automatic garage doors or security gates, know how to operate them manually or leave your car parked outside
- Lifts and escalators may not operate during the power outage
- Leave a light on inside your house, so you know when power is restored
- Visit the HealthyWA website for tips on reducing the risk of food-related illness during power outages.
If you have partial power or are without power after the planned outage, then check your meter box to make sure safety switches including RCDs (residual current devices) have not operated.
Make sure your RCDs in your meter box are at the 'on' position.
In certain circumstances equipment (such as air conditioners) may also need to be reset in accordance to the operating instructions. Should the instructions not assist you to reset the device, you would need to seek assistance from the manufacturer or installer for assistance.
Our SMS and email notifications will come to you directly from a Western Power mobile phone or email account.
The email has your notification letter attached as a PDF document.
Remember, you can choose whether you receive your planned outage notifications via email, SMS or mail. The default method is email, followed by SMS and finally mail. Call us on 13 10 87 to change your preference.
If you’re a life support equipment customer
- We will contact you by phone to confirm you have received a notification about the planned power outage. If you don’t want to receive a follow up phone call, please let us know by our contact form or call us on 13 10 87 to opt out of this service.
- If you require your life support equipment during the outage, please make sure you have enough back up supply or are able to make alternate arrangements. If you have any concerns or require assistance, please call us on 13 10 87.
Handy tips for how to prepare for a power outage
- Cordless phones, including NBN phones won’t operate without mains power, so we recommend having an alternative phone available.
- Power fluctuations may occur when power is restored, so it’s helpful to unplug sensitive appliances such as computers and TVs to reduce the risk of damage.
- Unplug electric heaters or air conditioners so they are off when power is restored.
- Adjust your fridge and freezer to the coldest setting.
- If you have solar panels, check your system is back on after the outage. Not all solar inverters will switch back on automatically after a power outage.
- If you have automatic garage doors or security gates, make sure you know how to operate them manually, or leave your car parked outside.
- Leave a light on inside your house, so you know when power is restored.
- Alarm systems, lifts and escalators may not operate during the power outage or may need to be reprogrammed once power is restored.
- If you don't have a backup battery, you may like to consult with your service provider or investigate the use of a generator.
- You may need to reset reticulation timers after the outage.
If you're a business customer
- You may want to align your maintenance schedule with this planned outage.
- Consider investing in a backup power system if round-the-clock electricity is essential
- Consider any sensitive and electronic appliances that may need to be switched off prior to the outage.
- Test your backup battery systems, emergency lighting, phone, security and fire protection systems.
- It’s a good idea to back up your computer systems and data.
- If you require further help planning for the outage, please contact us on 13 10 87 and quote the eNAR reference number on planned outage notification.
Everyone. It doesn’t matter if you have underground power, overhead lines or live in a metro or regional area, everyone gets planned outages as a part of our scheduled maintenance program.
Yes. Think of it like servicing a car - regular maintenance improves performance and safety. Planned outages could be to upgrade streetlights, connect a new hospital or business or even to connect electric vehicles charging stations or introducing new grid technologies.