If you are in immediate danger, call 000. For power outages or downed lines, call Western Power on 13 13 51. This page provides safety guidance only.

Safety first

Emergency safety guide

What to do if something goes wrong with your solar system. Follow these steps to stay safe.

Who to call

000

Fire, life-threatening emergencies

13 13 51

Western Power (faults & outages)

Your installer

System faults, warranty claims

Common emergency situations

Electrical hazards

Situations:

•Sparking or arcing from panels or inverter
•Burning smell from electrical components
•Exposed wiring or damaged cables
•Water ingress into electrical components

Immediate action:

Turn off system immediately and call 000 if in danger

Fire or smoke

Situations:

•Visible flames from solar equipment
•Smoke coming from panels or inverter
•Hot spots or overheating components
•Fire department response involving solar system

Immediate action:

Call 000 immediately, then contact your installer

Storm damage

Situations:

•Panels damaged by hail or debris
•Loose or displaced panels after storms
•Damaged mounting or roof penetrations
•System not working after severe weather

Immediate action:

Ensure safety first, then contact your installer for assessment

Emergency safety steps

Step 1

Ensure personal safety

Stay away from damaged equipment and avoid contact with water near electrical components

Step 2

Turn off system

Switch off the solar system at the inverter and main switchboard if safe to do so

Step 3

Call for help

Call 000 if in immediate danger. Otherwise, contact your installer or Western Power (13 13 51)

Step 4

Document the issue

Take photos if safe to do so and note the time and circumstances of the incident

What to document & next steps

Information to record

• Date and time of the incident

• Photos of damage (if safe to take)

• Your system installer details

• Description of what happened

• Any error codes displayed on the inverter

• Weather conditions at the time

WattMate tools

System health checker

Run diagnostics and report faults

Help centre & support

Troubleshooting tools, plus our phone and email contacts

Error code lookup

Troubleshooting guides for common inverter errors

Prevention & maintenance

Many emergencies can be prevented with proper maintenance and awareness:

Regular inspections

Annual professional inspections can identify potential issues before they become emergencies.

Weather preparation

Secure loose items around your solar system before severe weather events.

System monitoring

Regular monitoring can help detect performance issues that might indicate problems.

Still need a hand?

Independent safety guidance and support — not a sales call.

Help centre & support Run a system health check

Common emergency situations

Electrical hazards

Situations:

•Sparking or arcing from panels or inverter
•Burning smell from electrical components
•Exposed wiring or damaged cables
•Water ingress into electrical components

Immediate action:

Turn off system immediately and call 000 if in danger

Fire or smoke

Situations:

•Visible flames from solar equipment
•Smoke coming from panels or inverter
•Hot spots or overheating components
•Fire department response involving solar system

Immediate action:

Call 000 immediately, then contact your installer

Storm damage

Situations:

•Panels damaged by hail or debris
•Loose or displaced panels after storms
•Damaged mounting or roof penetrations
•System not working after severe weather

Immediate action:

Ensure safety first, then contact your installer for assessment

Emergency safety steps

Step 1

Ensure personal safety

Stay away from damaged equipment and avoid contact with water near electrical components

Step 2

Turn off system

Switch off the solar system at the inverter and main switchboard if safe to do so

Step 3

Call for help

Call 000 if in immediate danger. Otherwise, contact your installer or Western Power (13 13 51)

Step 4

Document the issue

Take photos if safe to do so and note the time and circumstances of the incident