About Urana
Urana is in the Federation Council area, formed in 2016 when Urana and Corowa shires merged. The 2021 Census counted 329 people in Urana and 12,899 across the council. It's dryland wheat and wool country.
With a small town and big properties, most of the electrical work worth the drive is on farms: shearing and machinery sheds, workshops, water pumps and the lines that feed them, plus the homesteads themselves.
Wool and wheat: what the work looks like
Shearing and machinery sheds. Shed power gets hard use: dust, moisture, vibration and cords dragged across floors. Under the WHS rules, that makes it a "hostile environment", so portable equipment needs RCD protection and regular inspection and testing. Rural electrical covers new circuits, lighting and repairs.
Safety switches that keep tripping. On farms this is a common call. Old outdoor fittings, water getting into a junction box, a tired motor or an extension lead left out in the rain can all do it. Our guide on a safety switch that keeps tripping explains what to check and what to leave to an electrician. Fault finding is charged by the hour.
Working near powerlines. Machinery over 4.6 m is flagged by Essential Energy as a higher risk around overhead lines. Keep untrained people and machinery at least 3 m from lines up to 132 kV, and use a safety observer. Our farm electrical safety guide has more, including Essential Energy's free Look Up and Live map.
Planning the trip
Travel is free close to Wagga and charged further out, and Urana is about 110 km by road, so a travel charge applies. It's the same whether the job takes an hour or a day. The online estimates work it out from your address, and for other jobs it's on the written quote.
For a trip this long, plan ahead. If you've got a shed fault, a homestead switchboard to look at and some outdoor lighting, put them all on the one booking. If a neighbour needs work too, it's worth mentioning.
Other towns out this way
Lockhart is about 65 km from Wagga and Narrandera about 98 km. Both are closer, so cost less in travel.
Urana is on the Essential Energy network. For outages, fallen lines, or a shock or tingle from a tap, trough or appliance, call 13 20 80 straight away, and 000 if someone is hurt. Stay at least 8 m from fallen powerlines.
Common questions
Will you really come out to Urana?
Yes. Nelson covers the Riverina out to about 150 km from Wagga. Travel to Urana is charged on the distance, so it's best to group jobs where you can.
My shed safety switch trips every time it rains. What's wrong?
Usually water is getting into something: an outdoor power point, a light fitting, a junction box or a cord. Don't keep resetting it. Call an electrician to find the fault.
Do shearing shed tools need test and tag?
If the shed is a workplace and the equipment is used in hostile conditions (dust, moisture, vibration), the WHS rules require regular inspection and testing by a competent person, and RCD protection for portable equipment.
Who do I call if a powerline comes down in a paddock?
Essential Energy on 13 20 80, or 000 if anyone is in danger. Stay at least 8 m away and keep others away too.