Preparing for a power outage?
Be prepared. Stay informed. Help your whānau stay safe this winter.
Severe weather, accidents and equipment faults can all lead to unplanned power outages. While our crews work year-round to reduce risks and restore power quickly, there are practical steps you can take now to keep your household safe and comfortable when the lights go out.
Read the important information below and complete our short quiz to go into the draw to win weekly Mitre 10 vouchers, as well as the grand prize draw for a complete Winter Readiness Pack!
While you’re here, you can also nominate a deserving community marae, hall, or local hub for our ultimate generator giveaway, thanks to Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei.
Important Outage Information
- Pack away or tie down trampolines, outdoor furniture, and loose items that could become hazards in strong winds.
- Trim trees and other vegetation on your property that could damage power lines during bad weather.
- Get your emergency kit ready – Include a torch, batteries, first aid kit, radio, bottled water, gas for the BBQ, and essential medications.
- Charge your phone and keep a car charger or power bank on hand.
- Learn how to manually open your garage door, or park your car outside before the storm.
- Stay 10 metres away from downed lines or damaged equipment. Always treat them as live.
- Keep your fridge and freezer closed to help preserve your food for longer.
- Check Northpower’s Outage Map or our Facebook page for regular updates.
- Call us if you need help. Please note, wait times may be longer during widespread outages.
- If you or someone in your whānau is medically dependent on electricity, have a plan to relocate to a safe place if needed.
- Watch out for non-functioning streets and traffic lights if travelling.
Every outage is different. Some take longer due to:
- Dangerous working conditions (e.g. high winds or darkness)
- Difficult access to damaged areas
- Widespread storm damage
- Prioritising hospitals and essential services
- Check our outage map for estimated restoration times and updates. We’ll keep you informed as the situation changes.
If the fault is on your private service line (running from the powerlines to your house), you will be responsible for the cost of any repairs. You may also be liable for any damage you cause to the Northpower network.
- Have at least three days’ worth of drinking water stored.
- Fill your bath and buckets for washing or toilet flushing.
- Be aware that WiFi and internet may be unavailable.
- Turn off and unplug sensitive electronics to prevent damage from surges.
- Avoid using candles; a torch is much safer.
Before calling:
- Check your switchboard as a tripped fuse or circuit breaker might be the issue.
- Ask your neighbours. If they still have power, the fault may be in your service line or internal wiring.
- Visit our outages map to see if we’re already aware of the fault.
- If your hot water or stove isn’t working, we may be managing load during peak demand. Give us a call if you’re unsure.
Test your knowledge and be in to win!
Are you prepared for a power outage? Take our short quiz below to test your knowledge, and go in the draw to win a Winter Ready Prize Pack for your home, thanks to Northpower and Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei.
It only takes a few minutes – why not do the quiz with your whānau, your children or your neighbours, and help keep everyone safe.
Generator Giveaway - nominate your community!
We’re proud to partner with Mitre 10 MEGA Whangārei to give away a generator to a deserving community. This Powertec 8500W Inverter Generator is valued at $2,298!
When severe winter weather affects power supply, having a generator handy in your community can be a great way to keep locals connected.
We’d love you to nominate your community marae, hall, or other central community hub where families can come together for support during unplanned power outages. This portable generator is a valuable resource to help your community get by until Northpower is able to restore power. It’s ideal for powering essential plug-in appliances like fridges, freezers, and kettles for hot drinks, as well as providing a station to charge phones, electronics, and plug-in standalone lights for community spaces.
Fill in the form below to nominate your community! T&Cs apply.
