Electrical enquiry planner

Important: Is it an emergency?

If you are experiencing electric shocks or tingles from taps or appliances, do not use this planner. Call Energex immediately on 13 19 62. Keep clear of the area and do not touch your switchboard or metal fittings until it has been declared safe by a professional. For life-threatening emergencies, call 000. Seek medical advice after an electric shock.

This planner is for non-urgent electrical work, helping you gather the right details for a clear enquiry.

1. What is the main task?

Start by identifying the type of work you need. Are you dealing with a fault, planning an installation, or considering an upgrade? Having a clear goal helps frame the rest of the details.

• Fault Finding: Something has stopped working, trips a circuit, or is behaving unexpectedly.
• Installation: You want to add a new electrical item, like a power point, ceiling fan, or light fitting.
• Upgrade: You're looking to improve existing infrastructure, such as a switchboard or smoke alarms.

Thinking about the category first helps focus your description. You can see a full list of common jobs on our electrical services page.

2. Where is the work needed?

Note the specific location in your home. Be as precise as possible.

• Room: e.g., Kitchen, main bedroom, outdoor patio.
• Position: e.g., Wall above the kitchen bench, ceiling in the centre of the room, external wall near the deck.
• Access: Is the area easy to get to? Note any high ceilings, tight spaces, or furniture that might need to be moved.

For issues affecting multiple areas, list all the rooms involved. If you live in a unit or apartment, describe affected and apparently unaffected areas you have already noticed. That observation does not prove the fault location or maintenance responsibility.

3. What have you observed?

This is your electrical enquiry checklist. Describing the symptoms or your goal in plain language is the most helpful step. You do not need to diagnose the problem yourself.

• For Faults: When did it start? Does it happen when you use a specific appliance? Does a circuit breaker or safety switch trip? Is there a flickering light or a buzzing sound?
• For Installations: What do you want to achieve? e.g., "Install a ceiling fan where a light fitting currently is," or "Add a double power point for a new TV."
• For Upgrades: What prompted the thought? e.g., "My switchboard has old ceramic fuses," or "My smoke alarms are over 10 years old."

4. Permissions and Property Type

Arranging necessary approvals beforehand can prevent delays. Consider your property type:

• Tenants: For any new installations or fixtures like ceiling fans or power points, you will need written permission from your property owner or agent before the discretionary alteration proceeds. You can discuss an enquiry or quote while approval is being clarified.
• Unit/Apartment Owners: You may need body corporate approval for work that affects common property, external walls, or the building's overall electrical load.

Include permission status if known, including pending or not yet requested. Existing notes, photos and model numbers are optional. A short description is enough to begin.

5. Create Your Enquiry Summary

Once you have these details, you have a clear, structured summary. You can use this information when you call or copy it into an online enquiry form. This helps an electrician understand the scope of the work and what to prepare for.

Use the quote checklist when comparing a proposal. Ready to send your enquiry? Head to our contact page to get in touch.