Older Melbourne Homes Flagged for Hidden Electrical Risks as Power Demand Grows

Non-Compliant Power Point Work Rising Across Melbourne Northern Suburbs

Reservoir, Australia – April 6, 2026 / Greenwood Electrical Group Pty Ltd /

Older Melbourne Homes Flagged for Hidden Electrical Risks as Power Demand Grows

RESERVOIR, Victoria, March 31, 2026 — Electrical contractors in Melbourne’s northern suburbs are reporting a rise in callouts to rectify unsafe and non-compliant power point installations, with older housing stock, increasing household power demand, and a persistent pattern of unlicensed work combining to create concealed safety risks in residential and commercial properties.

Electrician Reservoir

Greenwood Electrical, a family-owned electrical contractor in Reservoir and operating since 1914, has seen non-compliant power point callouts reach their highest level in recent years. Common findings include circuits operating beyond safe load capacity, missing or inadequate RCD protection, and cabling joined in ceiling spaces where heat, insulation, and restricted airflow accelerate deterioration over time. The trend has accelerated since 2023 as energy prices have prompted more homeowners to add outlets for home office equipment and EV chargers without seeking licensed electrical advice.

Why Older Properties Are Particularly at Risk

A significant portion of Reservoir’s housing stock dates from the 1950s and 1960s, when properties were designed for minimal electrical load. Many of these homes have never had their switchboards upgraded and are running original circuits that were not designed to support modern appliances, home offices, or the increasing number of devices drawing power simultaneously.

When a new power point is added to a circuit already operating near capacity, the consequences are not always immediate. Frequent tripping, voltage drop, and gradual cable insulation breakdown can develop over months before a fault becomes visible. In ceiling cavities, improperly joined wiring can overheat silently for extended periods, with fire risk increasing as the fault becomes buried under insulation or obscured by building movement.

“The installations that present the greatest risk are not the ones where something breaks straight away,” said Simon Choate, Director, Greenwood Electrical. “They are the ones where everything appears to be working but the underlying setup is unsafe. By the time a fault becomes apparent, the damage may already be significant and the homeowner’s insurance may not respond if unlicensed work is identified.”

The Compliance Picture in Victoria

Under Victorian law, all electrical work must be performed by a licensed electrician. DIY electrical work is illegal under the Electricity Safety Act and can void home and contents insurance, regardless of whether an incident occurs. Energy Safe Victoria requires that completed electrical work be certified and documented, with an electrical safety certificate provided to the property owner.

Switchboard limitations are a common finding during power point assessments in older Reservoir properties. Where original boards lack spare circuits, adequate RCD coverage, or sufficient capacity for additional load, new power point work requires a switchboard upgrade before it can be safely completed to current Australian Standards.

As electrical demand in Melbourne’s northern suburbs continues to grow, Greenwood Electrical says the pattern of non-compliant installations is unlikely to ease without greater awareness of the legal and safety obligations that apply to all electrical work in Victoria.

About Greenwood Electrical

Greenwood Electrical Group Pty Ltd is a family-owned and operated electrical contractor based at 5/7 Lakeside Avenue, Reservoir, Victoria. Established in 1914 and holding Registered Electrical Contractor licence REC 95, the business services residential, commercial, and industrial clients across Melbourne’s northern suburbs. Services include power point installations, switchboard upgrades, safety switch installation, lighting, and emergency electrical response. All work is performed by licensed electricians and fully certified to Australian Standards. Free quotes and upfront pricing are available on request.