Get storm ready
Tips to help you prepare for storms and weather events
Being prepared for a storm
Severe weather events, such as high winds and storms, can damage our electricity network and cause power outages for our customers. Often this is a result of tree branches, outdoor furniture and other loose debris blowing into our power lines.
While our crews are quick to respond by making repairs and restoring power, there’s a few things you can do to help before the wild weather arrives.
Tie down your trampoline
Secure your trampoline to the ground with rope, stacks or tent pegs to keep it from blowing away.
Put away your outdoor furniture
Secure or store away any outdoor furniture such as deck chairs, tables and umbrellas/gazebos.
Secure any loose debris
Put away or secure any loose materials on your property such as corrugated iron roofing or loose plastic bale wrapping.
Clear vegetation near your service line
Trim any trees or vegetation growing near your service line (the line that runs from the road to your house). Working near power lines is dangerous so an approved contractor may be required – see our information about tree trimming.
Get your firewood ready
If there's a power outage you won't be able to use your heater, and your fireplace may be the only form of heating available. It's a good idea to have a dry supply of firewood ready, just in case.
A working torch
Make sure you have a working torch (with the batteries charged) ready in case there's a power outage.
Know where to locate your ICP number
No power? Report your outage with your electricity retailer – that’s the company you pay your power bill to. To log the job, they’ll need your ‘ICP number’ which is the unique number for your power connection - you can find this on your power bill.
Consider a spare battery or mobile power pack
Make sure you fully charge your devices regularly and consider having a spare battery or mobile power pack. Your wifi and cordless landline phones will likely be affected in an outage, so having a back-up communications plan is important. You may be able to use your mobile phone to create a wifi hotspot. You can create your mobile hotspot from the settings of your phone (eg using a mobile phone to create a wifi hotspot).
Have a supply of emergency water
Water pumps in rural areas may not work when the power is out. Make sure you store emergency water supplies for drinking and washing. If you’re notified of a planned outage, keep buckets of water nearby on the day for flushing the toilet.What are the challenges to reconnecting customers after a storm.
During storms, safety is our top priority. This video shows how we reconnect your power after a major weather event, once crews ensure the area is safe and assess the damage.
We first fix our main transmission lines that bring power from the national grid, then we restore power to homes and businesses.
More resources and information
What to do during a storm
Civil Defence link
In an emergency, storms
Get Ready link
Weather updates
Met Service link
WeatherWatch link
