Hannah McLeod 
Good progress is being made to get power restored, but many people remain without power throughout Southland and Otago.
Chief Executive Paul Blue said as at 12pm on Monday (27 October) approximately 6,250 customers in Southland and 2,500 in Otago remain without power.
“We’re now at the point where areas may take longer to restore as they are more complex and with widespread damage. People should prepare to be without power for several days yet.
“Support from our colleagues around the country is arriving now to bolster our own crews and we will have around 220 field staff available by Wednesday.
“We’re also very aware that there will be individuals who remain without power in areas where power has been restored. Customers might see their neighbours with power but still be without any themselves. This is likely to be due to more property-specific damage and we will start addressing those issues soon.
“We are asking people to continue to be patient – we know it is hard, but we will get there. In the meantime, please check on your neighbours and support them where you can.
Mr Blue said there is also concern that people want to forge ahead and clear debris and lines themselves.
“Please don’t do this, as it can be very dangerous. Make sure you have reported broken poles, lines down or trees on lines to us and wait for our teams to get there.”
PowerNet is continuing to work closely with rural agencies and Emergency Management Southland and Otago to identify dairy farms without power and prioritise getting them restored or generators set up.
By the Numbers as at 12pm 27/10
The Power Company Limited network (Southland)
Total Customers: 38,200
Customers without power: 6,250
OtagoNet network (South Otago)
Total Customers: 15,700
Customers without power: 2,500
Please note these numbers will change as we undertake repairs and identify faults on the network.
