Staying safe in severe weather

Electricity travels easily through water, which can be dangerous if water enters your home or business.

Wet appliances, wiring or switchboards can cause life-threatening electric shocks. Water can also damage the wiring inside your property or electrical appliances, making them dangerous to use, even after they are dry.

Remember, even if your property isn’t directly affected by a flood, your distributor may need to disconnect the power supply in your area if another part of their network is flooded.

During a flood

Take these precautions to stay safe around electricity during a flood:

• Keep well away if water comes near electricity equipment
• Don't attempt to turn off your solar power system if any components are wet
• Never try to use an electrical ap[plicance while standing in water

After a flood

Because flood waters can damage your electrical appliances and wiring, you’ll need to have a licensed electrical contractor inspect them before you reconnect to power.

Ask your electrician to:

• check any water-affected appliances. If in doubt, throw them out
• check any electrical fittings that were wet or submerged
• consider relocating your switchboard and wiring away from flood-prone areas of your property.

Lightning is a major cause of damage to a distributors electricity network. Lightning strikes can cause electricity to surge through powerlines and into your home or business. These surges can damage your appliances or cause life-threatening electric shocks.

Take these precautions to protect yourself and your electrical equipment from lightning damage:

Before a storm

• Unplug electrical equipment, including computers, stereos and TVs (including the exetreal arial)

During a storm

• Avoid using a landline telephone during storms
• Stay inside to avoid lightning strikes
• If you’re outside, stay away from trees and poles, as lightning usually strikes the tallest point.
  You can also visit the Bureau of Meteorology warnings page for weather and emergency updates.

Cyclones and high winds can carry tree branches and other debris into powerlines and bring down power poles. This could cut your electricity supply or bring powerlines down on your property.

You can reduce the risk of electrical accidents in windy weather by taking a few simple precautions:

Before a cyclone or high winds

• Visit Get Ready Queensland’s comprehensive website for strategies to prepare your family and property for cyclones and other disasters.
• Maintain your trees and shrubs, removing weak branches or trees that could fall onto your home in a storm

Secure outdoor furniture, toys, trampolines, and garden equipment so they can’t get blown around in high winds

During a cyclone or high winds

• Always look out for overhead and fallen powerlines, especially around fallen trees and other debris.

As well as the heat of the flames, bushfires can also cause electrical hazards. They can damage and destroy electrical equipment, putting you at risk of injury. Thick smoke can also reduce visibility, making powerlines harder to see.

Even if you’re not directly affected by bushfires, your distributor might still need to disconnect your power supply if another part of their network is affected.

During a fire

• Stay away from any electrical equipment which is at risk of catching on fire
• ‘Take care stay line aware’ and look out for overhead and fallen powerlines
• After the fire, keep away from any exposed underground cables or melted pillar boxes.

When a storm or flood is coming, it’s a good idea to shut down your solar power system, if you can.

To do this, always follow your installer’s shutdown procedures. You should be able to find these at the inverter and/or on the main switchboard.

Most shut down procedures will ask you to:

• First turn off the Inverter AC Mains Isolator or the Solar Main Switch.
  • These are usually clearly marked and located at the inverter or in the switchboard the invertor is connected to/ If you cant easily locate them, then do not proceed.
• Next: If accessible at the solar inverter on the ground, also turn off the DC Isolator which will be clearly marked.
  • Do not attempt to access the solar panels or roof under any circumstance

Contact your solar system’s manufacturer or installer if you have questions about your solar system’s shutdown procedure.

If your solar system becomes wet or submerged while still switched on, you need to treat it as a serious electric shock risk.

Take the following precautions to stay safe around your solar PV system during a flood:

• If any part of your system is underwater or wet, assume it is dangerous and keep your distance
• Don’t attempt to turn it off or touch any components or wiring
• If you’re forced onto a rooftop to avoid floodwater, stay away from solar panels and wiring.

If your solar PV system has been submerged

If any part of your solar system was inundated by rain or floodwater, residual moisture could cause it to become live. It could give you a serious electric shock, even if your mains power is disconnected.

Take these precautions to have it reconnected safely:

• Do not touch the system or try to switch it on or off, even if it looks dry. Assume it is live and stay away
• Arrange to have it recommissioned by an accredited installer
• If an accredited installer isn’t available, instead have it tested by a licensed electrical contractor
• Replace the solar system inverter if it’s been submerged or partly submerged.

If your roof has been damaged

If your roof has been damaged, don’t try to reconnect your solar PV system. Any part of your system or roof could be live. You could get a serious electric shock from making contact, even if your mains power is disconnected.

Take the following steps to stay safe:

• Inspect the system carefully from a distance
• If you see damage or other cause for concern, contact your installer or a licensed electrical contractor immediately
• Once the system is safe to turn on, check the inverter regularly.