Portable generators
Portable generators can be a helpful backup during a power outage, but using them incorrectly can put you, your household and our crews at risk. This guide explains how to use a generator safely and what to avoid.
Why generator safety matters
When a generator is connected the wrong way, electricity can flow back into the network - a dangerous situation known as backfeeding. This can energise powerlines that our crews believe are switched off, creating a serious safety hazard.
Following safety practices helps protect everyone and supports our crews as they work to restore power. For detailed guidance on operating a generator, refer to our Portable Generator Safety Factsheet.
How to use a portable generator safely
Use your generator outdoors
This prevents carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be life-threatening.
- Operate your generator outside only, in a well-ventilated area
- Keep it away from doors, windows and vents
- Never use a generator indoors, in a garage or in an enclosed space
Plug appliances directly into the generator
- Use heavy‑duty, outdoor‑rated extension leads and ensure the leads are fully uncoiled and free from damage
- Keep leads away from water and trip hazards
- Plug appliances directly into the generator’s outlets
Refuel safely
- Turn the generator off and allow it to cool before refuelling
- Store fuel in approved containers
- Keep fuel away from flames, sparks, and hot surfaces
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions
- Check oil levels and filters
- Test your generator regularly
- Only power appliances within the generator’s rated capacity
What not to do
✘ Never connect a generator to your home’s wiring
- Do not plug a generator into a power point, switchboard, meter box, or any internal wiring.
- This is illegal and extremely dangerous.
Why this is unsafe:
- It can send electricity back into the network (backfeeding).
- It puts our crews at risk of electrocution
- It can damage your generator and household appliances
- It increases the risk of fire
If you need a permanent generator connection, speak with a licensed electrician about installing a compliant changeover switch.
Does Ausgrid provide portable generators to customers experiencing a power outage?
Ausgrid does not generally supply customers with portable generation during an outage. In limited circumstances, Ausgrid may provide portable generation to residential customers (outlined below).
Portable generation is not supplied to commercial or industrial customers.
Ausgrid’s ability to deploy portable generation is limited, and during an outage, it may not be possible to supply all eligible customers. Provision of portable generation for residential customers is at Ausgrid’s discretion.
Circumstances where portable generation will be considered
Portable generation will only be provided where Ausgrid, using a risk-based approach, has assessed that it is safe to do so for the particular individual residential customer in their circumstances.
Which residential customers can be supplied with portable generation?
Ausgrid will consider supplying portable generation to an individual residential customer’s residence in the following circumstances:
Planned outages:
- Where Ausgrid has assessed that the outage involves a customer whose life is at significantly increased risk from the interruption. All registered life support customers should have their own action plan to manage interruptions, and will have at least 4 clear days' notice of the interruption.
Unplanned outages:
- Where Ausgrid has assessed that the outage involves a customer whose life is at a significantly increased risk from the outage.
- Where power has been restored to an area and an isolated individual residential customer in that area still has not had their power restored, and Ausgrid has assessed that its ability to restore power to that customer in a timely fashion will be significantly delayed.
- The substantive outage is expected to be greater than 48 hours, and the customers affected are individual residential customers who are unlikely to have their power restored for at least seven days after the interruption first occurred.
Ausgrid may need to prioritise the supply of portable generation due to limited resources. In those circumstances, Ausgrid will decide in its absolute discretion how to deploy portable generation to eligible customers.
Matters that will be considered in portable generation deployment
Matters that will be considered in determining if portable generation should be deployed include:
- whether there are any safety risks to Ausgrid staff, customers or the community arising from providing the portable generation (e.g., electrical hazards, exhaust fumes or fire hazards), which may mean that the generator cannot be practically and safely connected and/or operated; and
- whether there are any environmental considerations that would prevent the portable generation from being provided (e.g., noise or pollution from fuel or exhaust products).