Counties Energy urges customers to prepare as restoration continues after severe weather

Counties Energy advises customers that while the severe weather affecting the region has now cleared, customers are urged to take precaution as widespread power outages remain and restoration work is ongoing. With more than 400 properties currently affected and over 100 network construction jobs in progress, customers should prepare to be without power for up to 5 days in some areas.

The crews prioritise construction jobs, such as replacing broken poles, repairing downed lines, and clearing vegetation, as these can restore power to multiple homes. Once these are completed, they assess which properties have been restored and which are still affected. A property may be restored as soon as the construction is finished, or it could take longer if the outage is specific to an individual property.

Strong winds and fallen trees have caused extensive damage to powerlines and electrical equipment across the network. Although crews are working around the clock, many outages affect individual properties, meaning restoration may take time. Customers are advised to be prepared for periods without power as repairs continue.

“Our crews are working as safely and quickly as possible to restore electricity across the region,” said Counties Energy Chief Customer & Operations Officer Dale Carline. “Even though the weather has cleared, the scale of damage means some customers may still be without power for a period of time. We urge everyone to take precautions and plan accordingly. For planning purposes, we could see some properties out for a further 3-5 days depending on what and where the required fix is. We fully understand being without power over the New Year period will be having an impact on families.”

Customers are reminded to treat all powerlines as live and to stay well clear of any fallen or damaged lines or electrical equipment. Faults should be reported immediately by calling 0800 100 202 or, in an emergency, 111.

For safety information, outage updates, restoration tracking and estimated restoration times, customers can access the Counties Energy website or the Outage Hub app at app.countiesenergy.co.nz. Regular updates are also being shared via social media channels.