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An emergency electrician is the person you need when something electrical is unsafe right now: a power point sparking, a burning smell from the switchboard, water leaking into a light fitting, or half the house suddenly without power. Some problems are true emergencies; others feel urgent but can safely wait until the next day once you’ve made things safe.
SuperFox is an enquiry service, not an electrical contractor. When you choose Urgent on our form or call us, we pass your enquiry to one local electrician, who calls you back to discuss the problem. We can’t promise an arrival time. For general electrical work, see our electrician Adelaide hub.
First: is anyone in danger?
Before contacting anyone else:
- Fire, injury or someone receiving a shock: call 000. Don’t touch a person who may still be in contact with live electricity.
- Fallen powerlines or street-wide outages: call SA Power Networks on 13 13 66. Stay at least 8 metres away from fallen lines and anything they touch.
- Sparking, smoke or burning smell inside the home: if it is safe to do so, switch off the main switch at the switchboard, keep people away and don’t use the affected outlet or appliance.
What counts as an electrical emergency?
| Situation | Urgency |
|---|---|
| Sparks, smoke or burning smell from an outlet or switchboard | Emergency, make safe and get help |
| Someone received a shock from a tap, appliance or fitting | Emergency, call 000 if hurt, then get it checked |
| Water leaking into lights or power points | Emergency, switch off the circuit if safe |
| Exposed or damaged live wiring | Emergency, keep people away |
| Safety switch won’t reset after unplugging appliances | Urgent, especially if fridges or medical equipment are affected |
| Part of the house has no power | Urgent, check the switchboard first |
| Flickering lights or one dead power point | Usually can wait for a standard booking |
Safe checks you can do
These are the only checks a homeowner should make:
- Check the street. If neighbours are also without power, it’s likely a network outage. Check SA Power Networks’ outage information.
- Check the switchboard. Look for a tripped safety switch or breaker (lever down or in the middle).
- Unplug appliances on the affected circuit, then reset the safety switch once.
- If it trips again, leave it off. Plug-in appliances can be tested one at a time later, but don’t keep resetting.
Never remove switchboard covers, touch exposed wiring or replace fuse wire with anything other than the correct rating. If your safety switch is the problem, read our guide on why a safety switch keeps tripping.
How electrical fault finding works
Once on site, the electrician works methodically:
- Asks what happened: when it started, what was running, any storms or water.
- Makes the installation safe, isolating the faulty circuit.
- Tests circuits and appliances to narrow down the fault, often with an insulation resistance tester.
- Repairs or isolates the faulty cable, fitting or appliance.
- Re-tests before restoring power, and issues a certificate of compliance for any electrical work done.
Some faults are found quickly. Others, such as intermittent tripping or damaged underground cables, can take longer to trace.
Common urgent electrical faults in Adelaide
- Storm and rain damage. Water entering outdoor power points, garden lights and roof spaces after heavy rain causes tripping and shorts.
- Heatwave overloads. Several air-conditioners on a 40 °C day can push old switchboards and circuits beyond what they were designed for.
- Old fuse boards. Homes with ceramic fuses and no safety switches are more likely to have overheating connections. A switchboard upgrade is often the long-term fix.
- Damaged underground cables to sheds, pumps and garages, sometimes from digging or reactive clay soil movement.
- Hills properties with long supply runs, outbuildings and pumps, where a fault can leave the house without water as well as power.
What affects the price of an urgent electrician?
The electrician explains their charges before starting. Factors include:
- Time of call. After hours, weekends and public holidays usually cost more
- Call-out or minimum charges
- Time needed to find the fault
- Parts and any repair or replacement
- Follow-up work, such as new safety switches or a board upgrade
Our guide to plumber and electrician call-out fees explains how these charges usually work.
SA rules and what to ask the electrician
Even in an emergency, electrical work in South Australia must be done by a licensed electrical worker. You can check a licence on the Consumer and Business Services (CBS) public register. Ask:
- What are your call-out and hourly charges for this time of day?
- Will you make it safe now and quote separately for a permanent repair?
- Will I receive a certificate of compliance for the work?
Reducing the chance of an electrical emergency
Many urgent call-outs start with warning signs that were present for a while. Get an electrician to look at power points that are warm or discoloured, lights that flicker for no clear reason, and a safety switch that trips occasionally. Avoid running heaters or portable air-conditioners from powerboards, and keep outdoor connections covered. Test your safety switches every few months using the test button. Working smoke alarms give early warning if an electrical fault does start a fire.
Getting urgent electrical help
Send one enquiry through the contact form and choose Urgent, or call 08 6800 6079. We pass the details to one local electrician, who calls you back within 24–48 hours. We can’t promise an arrival time, so make the situation safe first.