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Community readiness for power outages

25 November 2025

Recent severe weather and a significant fire event have reminded us all, of the importance of being prepared for unexpected power outages. While our area has faced challenges—from storms impacting powerlines to fires threatening infrastructure, The Lines Company (TLC) remains committed to keeping our community informed, safe and resilient.

During the recent fire event, promptly stood up an Incident Management channel to keep tabs on developments and coordinate a response should it become necessary. Ultimately, there was no impact to our network and power supply to our customers remained uninterrupted.

Acting TLC Chief Executive Simon Batters said, “We work hard to control as much as possible on our network, investing in upgrades and maintenance to minimise outages. However, some factors—like extreme weather or events outside our control—can still impact supply. That’s why it’s so important for everyone to be prepared.”

To help you and your whānau stay safe and comfortable during outages, please keep these tips in mind:

  • Keep a torch handy—and spare batteries too.
  • Use surge protectors to keep your electronics safe from power spikes.
  • Switch off appliances in use so they don’t turn on unexpectedly when power comes back.
  • Keep fridge and freezer doors closed to help food stay cold for longer.
  • If you use a water pump, store water for drinking, washing and flushing the toilet during outages.
  • Make sure your BBQ or camping stove is ready so you can still cook hot meals.
  • If you run a business, a backup generator can help you keep going during an outage.
  • If you rely on medical equipment powered by electricity, make sure you have a backup plan and support in place—just in case the power goes out.

TLC continues to invest in network upgrades and work closely with emergency services and local authorities to ensure a rapid, coordinated response to any incident. Our goal is to minimise disruption and keep our community connected, whatever the circumstances.

For more information on how to prepare for outages, visit our website: https://www.thelinescompany.co.nz/planned-outages/

For more information contact

[email protected]