Being prepared

What you need

While our priority is to restore any power outages as safely and quickly as possible, there are times when we are unable to do this due to the severity of the event.

Do you have a plan for how you and your whānau would cope without power for hours, days or even weeks?

Be prepared

In addition to your Civil Defence Get Ready(external link) emergency supplies, we suggest you have the following to make sure you are prepared for power outages:

  • A torch (we suggest torches instead of candles to reduce the risk of fire)
  • A radio
  • A charged power bank (for charging mobiles, devices)
  • Spare batteries

Have in your kit

You should also

  • Know the location of your main switch board.
  • Know how to open your electric garage door and/or gates with the manual release.
  • Have a safe heating plan.
  • Have an alternative outdoor cooking method.
  • Consider surge protection for sensitive devices (consult an electrician for advice on the best devices for your situation).

If you rely on electricity, (for example for water pumping and waste water, fish tanks etc.) you should ensure you have an alternative power source such as a generator available for use during a power outage.

Check our advice about safely connecting and using a generator, or call your local electrician.

Medically dependent

If you are medically dependent on electricity, you need an emergency plan. Obtain medical advice and inform your electricity retailer (e.g. Meridian, Contact, Genesis).

Business requirements

If you rely on electricity for essential business operations, you should ensure you have an alternative power source such as a generator available for use during a power outage. For advice about safely connecting and using a generator, please view our information on generator power backup or call your local electrician.

When the power's out

When the power is out it's good to follow the below advice

  • Check our outages page for up-to-the minute updates.
  • Stay clear of any fallen power lines and other damaged network equipment – treat them as live at all times.
  • If you are medically dependent – enact your emergency plan.
  • Report the fault – if the fault isn’t showing on our website you can report via the website or call us on 0800 363 9898.
  • If you know your unique ICP (Installation Control Point) number then have this ready when you call us (you can find this here or on your electricity account).
  • Use a torch instead of candles - this reduces the risk of fire.
  • Turn your main switch off and check that nothing has fallen onto stoves and heaters – this will lessen the risk of fire when power comes back on.
  • Ensure all electric cords and appliances are unplugged from the wall socket.
  • Keep your fridge and freezer closed. Food in fridges and freezers will last longer if you keep the doors closed while the power is off
  • Inspect electrical appliances for any visual damage and if damage is found, do not use
  • Do not attempt to make any repairs to damaged or faulty electrical equipment. Consult a qualified electrician
  • Consider unplugging any sensitive appliances

When the power comes back on

After a power outage and the power has been restored

  • Stay clear of any fallen power lines – treat them as live at all times.
  • Keep children well away from electrical equipment.
  • Take care when moving around your property.
  • If you receive any "tingles" when touching electrical appliances or water taps, turn off the main switch immediately and seek assistance from a qualified electrician.
  • Turning off the main switch does not mean that the wires feeding power to your house will be safe.
  • If circuit breakers trip or fuses blow, this is a warning that something is wrong – switch the main switch board and seek qualified advice.