Storm Resources

With more extreme weather events happening, it's important we're prepared in case the power goes out.

Our crews are highly experienced and well equipped for any weather event. They work around the clock to get the lights back on.

However, there are plenty of things you can do to prepare yourself and your home, even before a storm hits.

See more below:

How to prepare for and what to do during an outage at home
See how Vector prioritises power restoration across the network
Watch a behind the scenes video on how we work through a storm situation
Common questions during a weather event
See our information leaflet on power outages that we share with customers after severe weather events
Helpful links

Be prepared for an outageWhat to do during an outage

How can I best prepare for an outage at home?

It pays to be prepared in case your power goes off. In the case of a large weather event, you could be without power for longer than usual. Here are some reminders of how you can be prepared in case you lose power.

Keep your mobile phone charged and consider having a spare battery or mobile power pack.
Have a torch and spare batteries handy.
Store cooking fuel, such as gas for your BBQ.
Consider using a surge protection device to protect appliances such as the TV or computer from power interruption.
Water pumps in rural areas may not work when the power is off. To prepare, make sure you store emergency water supplies for drinking and washing.
Check that your house security alarm has battery backup in an outage.
Make sure you know how to open any gates or garage doors manually.
Ensure you have a supply of food and provisions in case you find your property isolated.
If it’s safe to do so, check your gutters and drains, and ahead of forecasted bad weather secure any large outdoor items, like trampolines, and move any loose outdoor equipment or furniture inside.
If you are medically dependent on electricity you firstly need to register directly with your retailer - for example, Contact, Mercury, Genesis, etc. They hold your account information and pass that to us as the lines company. We strongly encourage all medically dependent customers to have a backup plan in place and ensure your support network are aware of what to do in an outage. If you don’t have a plan, we recommend speaking to your healthcare provider as soon as possible. More information about what to do if you, or someone you know, relies on electricity as a medically dependent customer is available online at www.eranz.org.nz.

Manage a business or a community? See how you can prepare here.

If you see a downed power line or damaged equipment, don’t touch it – stay at least 8 metres away and call 111.

During a large-scale storm or weather event

When there's an event, such as a storm that results in widespread power outages, our main goal is to work as safely as possible to restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest time possible. The graphic below shows the order in which we work to restore power across the network.

Power Restoration Explainer – 7 steps

Step 1

High-voltage sub-transmission lines

Step 2

Zone substations

Step 3

Essential services

Step 4

Neighbourhoods

Step 5

Service lines

Step 6

Hot water

Step 1

High-voltage sub-transmission lines

High-voltage sub-transmission lines We prioritise repairs to the main sub-transmission lines (high-voltage lines) since these service large areas of the network and a very high number of customers

Step 2

Zone substations

Zone substations We must repair damage to zone substations before we can restore service to neighbourhoods, individual homes or businesses.

Step 3

Essential services

Essential services We work with emergency services to restore supply (sometimes on a temporary basis using emergency generation) to essential services such as hospitals, community support centres, schools, communication equipment or water supply systems.

Step 4

Neighbourhoods

Neighbourhoods We repair lines and equipment to systematically return service to the largest number of customers in the least amount of time in affected neighbourhoods. This includes repairs to hot water load control systems if affected.

Step 5

Service lines

Service lines If power to a home is still off (within a restored neighbourhood), there may be an issue with the service line, which is your personal line that connects to your house. This line is the homeowner’s responsibility. Contact a registered electrician.

Step 6

Hot water

Hot water Once we have restored hot water load control systems,(see 4), if you still don’t have hot water, there may be an issue with your service pilot wire. Contact a registered electrician.

Storm ready behind the scenes

Take a look behind the scenes in this short video, showing all the work that's involved to restore people’s power during a large weather event when there are widespread power outages across the Auckland region.

Outages in a Storm FAQS

How long can I expect my power to be out for during a storm?

The length of your power outage will depend on the severity of the damage across the network and the circumstances in your area (for example, trees falling on power lines or flooding causing access issues). In severe storms with widespread damage, it may take us a few days to physically assess damage and restore power (particularly if you live in rural areas where crews and equipment have to travel to). In these cases, separate crews are recruited to manage assessment and repair works. We'll let you know as updates on progress come through.

Our main goal is to work as safely as possible to restore power to the greatest number of customers in the shortest time possible. See more about the order in which power is restored here.

I still have no power, why have the Vector crews left?

When there is widespread damage across the network from an extreme weather event, it may take us a few days to physically assess damage and get the lights back on. In these cases, separate crews are used to manage assessment and repair works, which in many cases can be done offsite. If a Vector truck leaves your neighbourhood before your power is back on, please be assured that we're not ignoring you.

My neighbours' power is back on but ours isn’t?

If the power in your home remains off after power is restored to your neighbourhood, there may be an issue with your service line - this is the power line that runs from the street to your house. Call us on 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867).

My power is back on, but I have no hot water.

During prolonged outages, priority will be given to getting power back on before hot water.

If you live in central or South Auckland your hot water cylinder should automatically turn back on when your power is restored. It can take up to six hours for it to reheat. If you have no hot water after six hours:

Check that your hot water cylinder is on
If your hot water cylinder is heated by gas, then contact a registered plumber
If your hot water cylinder is heated by electricity, then please call us on 0508 832 867.

If you live in the North or West Auckland, your hot water may be controlled by the pilot wire system. Hot water pilot wires are separate from power lines and once power is restored after an outage; we repair network pilot wires.

If you’re still without hot water once we’ve restored network pilot wires, there may be an issue with your service pilot wire or the pilot wire relay inside the meter box. If so, please call us on 0508 VECTOR (0508 832 867).

Do I get any compensation when my power goes out during a storm?

We have service standards which apply in normal weather conditions on our electricity network. In extreme weather conditions or major adverse events outside our control, the usual service standards don't apply, although every effort is made to restore power as quickly as possible.

You can read more about our service standards here.

Damage across the network

Extreme weather can cause trees and branches to fall, as well as slips, damaging the electricity network and making access to carry out repairs a challenge. Here are some photos from previous weather events that show the extent of damage that our crews are faced with when getting the power back on. For your safety it is important to stay well clear of any damaged power lines and electrical equipment - stay at least eight metres away.