What to Do If a Sydney Storm Leaves You With an Electrical Defect Notice
Gale-force winds tore through Western Sydney on 5 September. If the damage is on your side of the connection, the fix is not a call to the network. Here is who fixes what, how long you have and what to do first.
On Saturday 5 September 2026, gale-force winds hit Greater Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains while Greater Sydney was under a Total Fire Ban. By 5pm Endeavour Energy reported around 50,000 customers without power and more than 250 fault sites across its network.
Because of the fire ban, Endeavour's automatic restoration systems were switched off, so crews had to manually inspect and patrol the lines before power could safely go back on. That was the network's job. But storms also damage the part of the supply that belongs to the property owner, from the connection point through to your meter and switchboard. When that happens, the fix is not a call to Endeavour Energy or Ausgrid. It is a repair you arrange and pay for, and if the network inspects and finds the damage, it comes as a defect notice with a deadline.
This guide explains who owns what, how to read a defect notice, the timeframes and what to do in the first week, drawing on what Ausgrid and Endeavour Energy publish and on the defect notice rectification work we do across Sydney. For the full background on notices, see our electrical defect notice explained guide.
If a powerline is down, treat it as live. Stay at least 8 metres away and never drive across it. Call 000 if there is an immediate threat to life or property, then report it to your network: Endeavour Energy on 131 003 (24/7) or Ausgrid on 13 13 88.
In this guide10 sections, jump to the part you need
- Key points
- Network damage vs property damage: who fixes what
- What a defect notice says, and how to read it
- The timeframe, in short
- Step by step: clearing a defect notice
- What we see on storm damage jobs
- Common mistakes that make this worse
- Checklist: what to do today
- What it costs, and help with cost
- Frequently asked questions
At a glanceKey points
Two owners, two fixes
The network owns the poles and wires in your street. You own your side, from the connection point to your switchboard or meter.
Your side is yours to repair
The property owner arranges and pays for storm damage on their side of the supply.
30 and 60 days on Ausgrid
Respond within 30 days and have the work done within 60 days of the issue date. Endeavour Energy states the timeframe on the report.
Level 2 at the connection
Private poles, overhead lines, the point of attachment and consumer mains need an ASP Level 2 electrician.
Do not wait for the paperwork
If the storm has damaged your side of the supply, you can get an electrician in now. You do not need a notice first, and a notice, if one comes, starts a clock.
Section 1Network damage vs property damage: who fixes what
Most outages after a big wind event are on the network side. Endeavour Energy is responsible for the poles, powerlines and other equipment that deliver electricity, and the connection point is where its network joins yours. Everything on the other side of that point is your installation.
The network owns and repairs
The poles and wires down your street, up to the connection point where the network joins your property.
- Street poles and powerlines
- Network equipment up to the connection point
- Restoring supply when the fault is on the network
You own and repair
Ausgrid states that everything from the first point of connection on your property to your switchboard or meter is part of your installation.
- Private poles, crossarms and pole-top fittings
- Overhead lines on your side of the connection
- Point of attachment and consumer mains
- Meter panel and switchboard
So if a falling branch snaps your overhead line, wind leans your private pole, or a cracked meter panel lets water into your switchboard, that is the owner's repair, at the owner's cost. Until the damage on your side is fixed and signed off, the network generally cannot safely reconnect you.
That is where a defect notice comes in. Anything that involves the connection to the network needs an ASP Level 2 (Accredited Service Provider), because the work has to meet the network operator's own standards. Ausgrid directs owners to the NSW Government's list of ASP Level 2 contractors for pole and wire work.
Which network are you on? Across most of Sydney's south, including Hurstville and Peakhurst, it is Ausgrid. Revesby, and areas out toward Liverpool and Western Sydney, are on Endeavour Energy's network. The paperwork and contact details differ, so check which logo is on your notice.
Section 2What a defect notice says, and how to read it
A defect notice means the network has found something on your side of the supply that is unsafe or does not meet the required standards. Ausgrid calls it a defect notice. Endeavour Energy issues a "Report of Inspection - Customer Defect" that explains what the defect is and what is needed to fix it. Before you call anyone, find these four things on the page.
Who issued it
Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy. This tells you which rules and contact details apply.
The issue date
Timeframes are counted from dates, so write this down first.
What is named
Every item has to be fixed before the notice is cleared, and one notice often names several.
The timeframe
Endeavour writes it on the report. For Ausgrid, see Section 3.
After a storm, these are the items we see named most often, what they usually mean and who fixes them.
| What is damaged | What that usually means | Who fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Overhead line | Snapped, sagging, low or touching wires between the pole and your building, often from a fallen branch | ASP Level 2 |
| Private pole | Leaning, cracked, split or pulled over by wind or a fallen tree | ASP Level 2 |
| Point of attachment | The bracket where the line meets your building is bent, loose or pulled off | ASP Level 2 |
| Consumer mains | The cable from the point of attachment to your switchboard is damaged, stretched or exposed | ASP Level 2 |
| Meter panel | Cracked, dislodged or water damaged. Older panels may contain asbestos | Licensed electricianASP Level 2 where the network connection is involved |
| Switchboard | Failed, burnt, repeatedly tripping or showing water ingress | Licensed electricianOften a full switchboard upgrade |
| Trees and branches | Limbs in, or leaning on, the powerlines | Qualified tree trimmer (ASP Level 1)If the power must be off, an ASP Level 2 isolates it |
No notice yet? Storm damage does not always arrive with a letter. If you can see damage on your side of the supply, photograph it and get an electrician out rather than waiting to be told.
Section 3The timeframe, in short
Ausgrid 30 / 60 days
Under the NSW Electricity Supply Act 1995, you must contact Ausgrid within 30 days of receiving the notice to confirm the work has been done, or will be done within 60 days of the date the notice was issued. If Ausgrid has no confirmation after 30 days it will try to contact you, and after 60 days it may disconnect your supply until repairs are complete, or complete the repairs and seek to recover the cost from you. If its inspectors find an immediate safety risk, it may disconnect sooner.
Endeavour Energy Stated on the report
Endeavour does not publish a single fixed period for customer defects. The Report of Inspection states what has to be done and by when. If an unsafe situation is not rectified promptly, Endeavour has the authority to disconnect part or all of the installation.
You may see 21 days quoted on some electricians' websites. That is not what Ausgrid publishes, and the date on your notice governs. If the damage is serious, for example a leaning private pole, do not wait out the clock. Contact the network early and ask what it needs from you.
Section 4Step by step: clearing a defect notice
Stay clear
Treat a damaged service line, meter box or switchboard as live. Do not touch anything electrical yourself.
Read the notice
Note the issuer, the issue date, every item named and the timeframe. Photograph all pages.
Call an electrician
Your original electrician first if you have one, or an ASP Level 2 authorised on your network. Brilliant Electric is authorised on Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy.
Get a written quote
Ask for a written scope and price before work starts. See the cost guide in Section 8.
Book the works
Allow about half a day without power for straightforward jobs, and a full day for work from the overhead line through to the switchboard.
Paperwork is lodged
Your electrician lodges a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal within 7 days of testing, plus any network paperwork the job needs.
Tell the network
Confirm the work is done within the timeframe. Ausgrid asks for the paperwork and photos to be emailed to its private mains team.
Reconnection
The network confirms the defect is cleared and reconnects if supply was cut. Ask your distributor whether any re-inspection or reconnection fee applies.
Section 5What we see on storm damage jobs
Aldrae Cruz
Brilliant Electric, ASP Level 2 contractor
After a big wind event, the same handful of problems come up again and again.
Overhead lines brought down by branches
A branch does not have to land on the wire to cause damage. Pulling a line slack or tearing the point of attachment off the building is enough, and both are Level 2 jobs.
Cracked or dislodged meter panels
In older homes, particularly pre-1980s, the panel may contain asbestos. It is handled and disposed of as hazardous material, not unscrewed and binned, so ask about asbestos before anyone pulls it apart.
Switchboards that survive the storm but not the reconnection
We see boards that looked fine during the outage fail when power comes back, especially where an EV charger, solar or a new oven has been added since the board was installed.
Private poles that were already marginal
A pole that was leaning or rotting before the wind often does not survive it. The storm brings the notice forward rather than creating the problem.
Photograph before anything is touched
Take clear photos of the damage and of the notice before repairs begin. You will want them for your insurer and for the electrician's scope.
Section 6Common mistakes that make this worse
Assuming a general electrician can clear the notice
Anything at the connection to the network needs an ASP Level 2. A general electrician will usually bring one in and mark up the price. Deal direct with the Level 2 and there is one contractor and one margin.
Letting the deadline run before calling anyone
Quotes, bookings and paperwork all take time. The earlier you send the photo, the more options you have.
DIY, or "capping it off" temporarily
Damaged lines and boards may still be live. Ausgrid is clear that attempting electrical repairs yourself is dangerous and illegal.
Not asking about asbestos
An old meter panel can contain it. Ask before the panel is removed, not after it has been broken up.
Assuming insurance covers it automatically
Cover for a private pole or overhead line rebuild is not automatic. Check your policy specifically, and keep photos and invoices.
Planning around 21 days
It is not the published Ausgrid framework, and it can push people into rushed decisions. Use the dates on your notice.
Section 7Checklist: what to do today
- Locate and read your defect notice, or confirm with the network whether one has been issued.
- Note the deadline. On Ausgrid's network, put day 30 and day 60 in your calendar. On Endeavour's, use the date on the report.
- Check what is named: service line or overhead mains, pole, meter panel, switchboard or trees.
- Photograph the damage and every page of the notice.
- Call your original electrician, or an ASP Level 2 directly, and send the photos.
- Ask for a written scope and quote before work starts.
- Confirm the expected power-off duration.
- Ask specifically about asbestos if the home pre-dates the 1980s.
- If you are renting, forward the notice to the owner or property manager today. Complying is the owner's responsibility.
- Keep the CCEW and compliance paperwork once the work is done, with your notice and quote.
Section 8What it costs, and help if cost is the problem
There is no single price, because it depends on what is damaged. Our starting prices for the work storm damage most often calls for are:
These are starting prices, not quotes. Site access, ground conditions and what is already there all move the number, and you get a written, itemised price before any work begins. We accept Google Pay, Afterpay, Klarna, direct debit, bank transfer or cash.
If paying is the problem, say so early. Ask before the deadline passes, not after it:
Ausgrid
Has a Customer Assistance Framework for customers who need help paying for rectification work. Call 13 13 65 to discuss your options.
Endeavour Energy
May offer an interest-free repayment plan, and some customers may be eligible for a Customer Owned Asset Assistance Loan.
Your insurer
Check whether your policy covers storm damage to private poles, overhead lines and switchboards before you commit to the work.
The short versionSummary
After a storm, the network fixes its own poles and wires, and you fix everything on your side of the connection point. If the network finds damage on your side it will issue a defect notice with a deadline. Find the issuer, the date, the items named and the timeframe, photograph everything and send it to an ASP Level 2 electrician authorised on your network. Keep tree work separate, ask about asbestos on old meter panels, and raise cost early if you need to. The notice is cleared when every item is fixed and the paperwork is lodged.
Your questionsFrequently asked questions
What is an electrical defect notice in NSW?
It is a formal written direction from your electricity distributor, such as Ausgrid or Endeavour Energy, issued after an inspection finds something unsafe or non-compliant on the part of the supply you own. Endeavour Energy's version is called a Report of Inspection - Customer Defect. It names the defect and what is needed to fix it.
My power line came down in the September storm. Is that the network's problem or mine?
It depends where the damage is. The street-side poles and wires belong to the network, and you can report a fallen line to Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Ausgrid on 13 13 88. The part from your connection point to your switchboard or meter, including private poles, overhead lines and the point of attachment, is yours to repair. Stay at least 8 metres from any fallen line and call 000 if there is an immediate threat to life or property.
Who pays for storm damage on my side of the supply?
The property owner. Ausgrid states that the owner must arrange and pay for a qualified contractor to complete the work. Check your insurance policy too, because cover for private poles and overhead lines varies and is not automatic.
How long do I have to fix a defect notice?
On Ausgrid's network you must contact Ausgrid within 30 days of receiving the notice to confirm the work is done or will be done within 60 days of the date the notice was issued. Endeavour Energy writes the timeframe on the report. The date on your notice governs.
Can any electrician fix it, or do I need an ASP Level 2?
Work at the connection to the network, including private poles, overhead lines, the point of attachment and consumer mains, needs an ASP Level 2 electrician authorised on the network that issued the notice. A general electrician will usually need to bring one in. Trees near the lines need a qualified tree trimmer.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
Ausgrid states it will follow up after 30 days, and after 60 days it may disconnect your supply until repairs are complete, or complete the repairs itself and seek to recover the cost from the owner. Endeavour Energy states it can disconnect part or all of the installation if an unsafe situation is not fixed promptly.
How long will my power be off during the repair?
Usually about half a day for straightforward jobs, and a full day if the work runs from the overhead line through to the switchboard.
What if my old meter panel has asbestos in it?
Do not remove it or drill into it yourself. Older panels, particularly in homes built before the 1980s, can contain asbestos, so ask your electrician about it before any work starts. It needs to be handled and disposed of as hazardous material.
What paperwork do I get when the work is finished?
Your electrician must lodge a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal within 7 days of testing, and you receive a copy. Keep it with your notice and quote, because the distributor may ask for it to close out the notice.
Does Brilliant Electric cover Endeavour Energy areas, not just Ausgrid?
Yes. Brilliant Electric is an ASP Level 2 contractor accredited and authorised on the Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy networks. It is based in Riverwood and also services Revesby, which sits on the Endeavour Energy network.
Storm damage or a defect notice on your side of the supply?
Send us a photo of the damage and the whole notice. We will tell you what it actually requires, roughly what it is likely to cost and how long you really have, before you commit to anything.
We are accredited and authorised on the Ausgrid, Endeavour Energy and Essential Energy networks, and we work right across Sydney from our base in Riverwood, including nearby Revesby (Endeavour Energy), Peakhurst and Hurstville. If your notice names a pole, see power pole replacement and installation; if it names your meter panel or switchboard, see switchboard upgrades; and if you are building, our temporary builders supply gets power on site.
Phones answered Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with Saturdays by appointment. We do not run a 24/7 or emergency service. If a wire is down or a pole has fallen, call 000, then Endeavour Energy on 131 003 or Ausgrid on 13 13 88. Mention the notice's deadline when you call us.
Sources, checked October 2026
- Endeavour Energy: Live incident update, September 2026 windstorm
- Endeavour Energy: Windy conditions, Saturday 5 September 7:30pm update
- Endeavour Energy: Private assets, poles and wires
- Ausgrid: Private poles and powerlines, repair costs and FAQs
- NSW Government: Electrical compliance requirements (CCEW)
- NSW Government: Accredited Service Provider (ASP) Scheme