TL;DR
- 24/7 licensed emergency electrician across Mackay.
- Typical response: 30-90 min city, 1-3 hr outer suburbs.
- Call 07 4957 3511 for any electrical emergency.
- During severe storms, report fallen wires to Ergon (13 22 96) first.
What counts as an electrical emergency
- Burning smell from switchboard or sockets — shut off power at main breaker and call immediately.
- Smoke or sparks from fittings — evacuate and call 000 first if there's fire, then us.
- Main breaker trips and won't reset — possible earth fault or dangerous wiring.
- Exposed live conductors (damaged cable, broken socket) — keep clear, call us.
- Storm/cyclone damage: fallen wires, tree on powerline, water in switchboard.
- Complete power loss where neighbours still have power — likely a main fault inside your premises.
Before we arrive
- Turn off the main switch at the switchboard if safe to do so.
- Unplug appliances at affected circuits to prevent damage on restoration.
- Do NOT touch fallen wires or anything in contact with them — assume live.
- If it's storm-related and there's a downed external wire, call Ergon (13 22 96) first — they own the network up to your meter.
- Keep children and pets away from the affected area.
What we do on arrival
- Safe isolation: lock off the main supply, verify dead.
- Diagnose: thermal imaging + insulation resistance testing to pinpoint fault.
- Temporary repair: restore safe service where possible (isolate bad circuit, reinstate rest).
- Permanent fix: same visit for simple issues, or follow-up quote for major work.
- Certificate of Compliance: issued for all work.
Storm season readiness
Mackay's cyclone/storm season (Nov-Apr) is peak emergency call time. Common faults:
- Lightning surge damage to solar inverters and appliances.
- Water ingress into meter boxes and weatherproof GPOs.
- Tree branches on service lines (Ergon asset — report to 13 22 96).
- Backflow from damaged generators on inadequate changeover switches.
Pro tip: Install a Type 2 Surge Protection Device (SPD) at your switchboard before storm season. Cost $300-$500, can save $5,000+ in appliance/inverter replacement after lightning strike.
Pricing transparency
| Callout type | Fee range |
|---|---|
| Standard business hours | $110-$150 callout + $95-$125/hr |
| After-hours (5pm-10pm weekdays) | $180-$220 callout + $140-$175/hr |
| Weekend & overnight | $240-$280 callout + $165-$200/hr |
| Storm/cyclone events | Quoted case-by-case |
FAQs
What's the difference between calling Ergon vs an electrician?
Ergon owns and maintains the street network and service line up to your meter. Anything past the meter (switchboard inward) is the homeowner's responsibility — that's where a private electrician comes in.
Does insurance cover emergency electrical?
Generally yes for storm/lightning damage under home insurance. Call your insurer as soon as it's safe and keep photos. Our invoices are itemised for insurance submission.
Electrical emergency?
Call Next Phase Solar 24/7 on 07 4957 3511 — licensed, insured, Mackay-local.
Call now: 07 4957 3511