At Aurora Energy, we’re doing a lot of work to upgrade the electricity network in Dunedin, Central Otago/Wānaka and Queenstown Lakes. Our increased work programme means an increase in planned power outages to keep our customers, staff and contractors safe while doing the work.
To report a power outage please call us 24/7 on 0800 22 00 05
Frequently asked questions
Our team are always monitoring the network for faults and outages. But if the power goes out in your area, and it's not mentioned on our outages map, please contact us on 0800 22 00 05.
In the meantime, turn off your appliances and electrical equipment – some can be a fire hazard and others might be damaged when the power comes back on.
Check the circuit breakers and/or fuses on your switchboard to see if they are still working.
If your meter seems to be working, you may have a fault in the power supply to your premises. Call your electricity retailer to log the fault.
Outages that impact single customers are not shown on the Aurora Energy website.
Planned outages are sometimes required while we work on the network, to ensure the safety of both the public and our contractors.
We understand that power outages can be inconvenient. If you will be affected by a planned outage, your electricity retailer will notify you in advance, so you can plan ahead and make alternative arrangements.
From time-to-time Aurora Energy, or one of our contractors, will notify you directly for low voltage outages less than 10 working days in advance.
Please be aware that the restoration times for planned and unplanned outages are estimates. When the power goes out, it may not come back on all at once. Some areas may have power restored before others.
We only display outages that affect multiple customers on the website. If there's an outage that affects just one customer, it won't be shown here.
Sometimes we’re unable to proceed with work on the day of the planned power outage due to events beyond our control such as extreme weather. Because work is often cancelled at short notice, we will not be able to let you know directly and we apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. Please check our outages page the day of the planned power outage in case of a late cancellation. We will let your retailer know 10 business days before any rescheduled date, and they’ll let you know.
If it’s not a planned outage, there are a number of things that can cause the power to go out at your place including:
- A vehicle hitting a power pole
- Birds flying into power lines
- Possums climbing power poles
- Tree branches contacting overhead lines
- Items blown by the wind into power lines
- Extreme weather
- Natural disasters
- An emergency that requires the power to be turned off so Emergency Services can safely respond and make the area safe for the public
We only display outages that affect multiple customers on the website. If there's an outage that affects just one customer, it won't be shown there.
Also, from time-to-time, we, or our contractors will directly notify customers of a small localised planned outages with less than 10 working days advanced notice and these outages may not be represented on the website.
We know power outages are inconvenient and we notify you in advance so you can plan ahead and make alternative arrangements. We do not compensate customers for planned outages. You can find information about back-up power generation here.
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)