PowerNet staff, supported by crews from throughout the country and specialist contractors are powering through to get the lights back on for hundreds of customers who have been without electricity for 13 days.

PowerNet Chief Executive Paul Blue said while it’s been encouraging to see numbers drop so significantly in the past couple of days, the company hasn’t forgotten it has been a very long wait for many customers.

“Your patience and your kindness to our crews has been nothing short of outstanding,” Mr Blue said.

“We’ve received hundreds of fault reports via our online form and our contact centre, and we’re cross-checking those reports with what our field crews are doing and seeing on-the-ground,” he said.

“We’re now in what we call the ‘tail’ of the response. It can be challenging to pinpoint where the last of our faults are, or the causes of those faults.”

“Rest assured we are still pushing hard to get to each of you, to understand what’s required, and to get your power restored safely,” Mr Blue said.

Remember:

• If you have previously submitted a form on our website or called us BEFORE power was restored to your general area, and your neighbours have power on but you don’t, please call us on 0800 808 587.
  
• There will be additional outages throughout our networks while we complete repairs and reconnect power. If your power goes off again and doesn’t come back on after four hours, give us a call on 0800 808 587.
  
• If there is obvious damage to the service line within your property boundary, please contact an electrician to look at this for you. It may not resolve your power issues but it will ensure your property is ready to be reconnected when we get there to fix any other problems.

By the Numbers as at 2.30pm 4/11

The Power Company Limited network (Southland)
Total Customers: 38,200
Customers without power: 115

OtagoNet network (South Otago)
Total Customers: 15,700
Customers without power: 205

TOTAL OUTAGES ACROSS BOTH NETWORKS: 320