Small town, long way, straight answers
Ariah Park is a small place, and finding a licensed electrician who'll make the trip isn't always easy. NAF Electrical is based in Wagga Wagga, about 99 km away by road. Nelson is a licensed NSW electrical contractor (licence 374694C), and he'll give you a written quote, travel included, before he starts.
Getting there
Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out, so a trip to Ariah Park does carry a travel cost. You don't have to work it out yourself: the online estimators calculate it from your address, or call Nelson or send the job through for a written quote.
At 99 km each way, it pays to make the trip count. Before you call, it's worth walking around the house and sheds and writing down everything that needs doing: the outside light that never worked, the shed power point, the safety switch that keeps tripping. One visit for several jobs is better value than several visits.
What's worth doing while he's there
Safety switches. If your switchboard has none, or only one covering the whole house, adding safety switches is one of the most useful things you can do. NSW doesn't force owner-occupiers to retrofit them, but they cut power fast when current leaks to earth, which protects against shock.
Sheds and farm power. Workshops, machinery sheds and pumps are workplaces under the WHS rules, and portable tools used in dusty or wet conditions need RCD protection. Nelson does rural electrical work from new shed circuits to tracing faults on long underground runs.
Overhead lines. Essential Energy flags machinery over 4.6 m as a higher risk around powerlines, and the safe approach distance for untrained people and machinery is 3 m for lines up to 132 kV. Our farm electrical safety guide covers this, plus Essential Energy's free Look Up and Live map.
Fault finding. It's charged on time, so the quicker the fault is found, the less it costs. If you can describe exactly what's happening (what trips, when, and what was running), it usually goes quicker.
Other towns in the area
Temora is about 88 km from Wagga and Ardlethan about 104 km. If a job is already planned in one of those, mention it; it may make sense to fit yours in on the same run.
Power network and emergencies
Ariah Park is supplied by Essential Energy. Call 13 20 80 for outages, fallen powerlines or a shock or tingle from a tap or appliance. Call 000 if someone is hurt. Stay at least 8 m away from a fallen line.
Common questions
Will an electrician from Wagga come out to Ariah Park?
Yes. Nelson covers towns up to about 150 km from Wagga. Travel is charged this far out, and it's included in your written quote. Grouping several jobs into one visit makes the trip better value.
Can I do my own electrical work on the farm?
No. In NSW, electrical wiring work must be done by a licensed electrician, on a farm or anywhere else. DIY wiring is illegal and can void your insurance. You can reset a tripped breaker once and press the test button on a safety switch.
How do I know the work was done properly?
Every circuit is tested, and Nelson lodges a Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work (CCEW) through the Building Commission NSW eCert portal. You get a copy.
What should I do before calling about a fault?
Note what tripped, when it happens and what was running at the time. Photos of the switchboard help too.