After a power outage

• When in doubt – throw it out! Throw away any perishable food that has been exposed to temperatures of at least 4 degrees Celsius for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odour, colour or texture 
• If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the label says otherwise. Consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately for a new supply 

• You'll know when the power comes back on if you left a light on
• Remember to turn your appliances on once your power comes back on

• Exposed wires should be treated with care. Turning off the mains switch does not mean that the wires feeding power to your house will be safe 
• If circuit breakers trip or fuses blow, this is a warning that something is wrong – switch the circuit off and seek advice from a qualified electrician 
• Take care when moving around the property. If you receive any ‘tingles’ when touching electrical appliances or water taps, turn off the mains switch immediately. Then seek assistance from a qualified electrician  
• Keep children away from electrical equipment 
• Stay clear of any fallen power lines – always treat them as live 
• Use alcohol-based hand sanitiser to wash your hands if water is limited 
• If you have left your house due to flooding and are concerned about electrical safety, turn off the main switch when you get back and always engage an electrician to carry out checks if the water level has been higher than the lowest plugs on the walls

Aurora Energy will not accept responsibility for any damage to a customer’s electrical equipment or appliances caused by an unplanned power outage, power surge or unbalanced voltage. We recommend you arrange insurance that covers damage from transient voltages (surges).

If you have any issues following an unplanned power outage, please contact your insurance provider in the first instance. 

You can find information on how to protect your electronics here: Preparing for power outages (auroraenergy.co.nz)