As homes and business electrify, many customers are using more electricity than their property was originally designed to handle. 

When your home draws more electricity than your electrical setup can safely support, your service fuse will operate (commonly referred to as a blown fuse). This causes a power outage, and we’ll need to send our crew to replace the fuse before your power can be restored. 

Using several high-energy appliances at the same time, may be enough to exceed what your property’s electrical setup can handle. This is even more likely if you have an electric vehicle (EV) or home battery, particularly if you’re charging them while also using other high-energy appliances such as air conditioning or an oven. 

We recommend arranging for a registered electrician to inspect your electrical wiring. They can determine whether it’s suitable for your current and future electricity needs, or whether you should apply for a supply upgrade. 

 “3-for-free” energy plans that offer free power during the middle of the day are a great way to reduce electricity costs, however you need to ensure your electrical setup can handle the increased electricity demand during this 3-hour window. 

 

What is a service fuse

A service fuse is a safety device that operates by cutting power off to your property when it detects a problem, or ‘fault’. 

On older properties, it’s often located near the roofline. On newer or renovated properties, it’s usually inside the switchboard on an external wall.    

 

Why a fuse may blow

A service fuse may blow if there’s a problem with your property’s wiring or you used more electricity from the network than your electrical setup is designed to safely handle. 

As homes electrify, it’s increasingly common for customers to use more electricity than the home was originally designed to handle. This is particularly noticeable as customers take advantage of ‘3-for-free’ energy plans and use various high-energy equipment during the same 3-hour window. 

 

How to avoid a blown fuse

If you have high-energy equipment, particularly an EV or home battery, one way to reduce the risk of a blown fuse is to spread out when you use them throughout the day. 

For example, you could schedule your home battery to charge at a different time from your EV, or avoid charging either while using other high-energy appliances such as your induction cooktop, oven or air conditioner. 

It’s also important you have a registered electrician assess your current and future electricity needs.  They can determine whether: 

• spreading out when you use high-energy equipment throughout the day is a suitable long-term solution 
• your property’s electrical setup is suitable for the amount of electricity you’re using 
• you should apply for a supply upgrade to support your energy needs. 

 

If you need a supply upgrade

A supply upgrade at your property will allow you to increase the amount of electricity you can safely use. This could involve increasing the size of your fuse or upgrading from a single-phase to three-phase electricity supply (if available in your area). 

Your electrician can help you understand what you need and will submit a supply upgrade application with us on your behalf. We charge a fee for a customer supply upgrade as works need to be completed on our electricity network. 

Separately, your electrician will also charge a fee for any work needed on your own property to support the supply upgrade. 

 

Fuse upgrades

How to apply

Your electrician needs to submit the application through our online portal, eConnect, along with a Certificate of Electrical Safety. 

Cost and timeframes

A service fuse upgrade typically costs between $900 and $1,100, provided no additional work is required.  

Once we receive the application, we’ll assess it within X business days.  

If we don’t need any further information, we’ll complete the upgrade within X business days of approving the application.   

Your electrician will also charge separately for any work needed on your property to support the supply upgrade. 

 

Upgrade to three-phase power

This is a more complex supply upgrade that involves installing additional powerlines from the electricity network to your property.  

Your electrician needs to submit the application through eConnect. Our fee for a supply upgrade typically costs between $900 and $1100. 

Once we receive the application, we’ll assess it within X business days.  

If we don’t need any further information, we’ll complete the upgrade within X business days of approving the application.   

Your electrician will also charge separately for any work needed on your property to support the supply upgrade. 

Please note that three-phase power isn’t available in all areas.