Counties Power outages today
Thanks to our real-time visualization tool, you can instantly check the number of Counties Power outage reports in your area and across the country.
I have a Counties Power power outage
Check the power outage reports on the website to see if you're affected by an electrical interruption.
Reported outages in the last 24 hours
...How to track and report outages live
Track the progress of reports through a chart that shows recent problems and a map that locates affected areas. If you encounter an issue, click on the "Report an outage" button to inform the community.
Counties Power, the network south of Auckland
Counties Power Limited owns and operates the electricity distribution network in the rural and growing semi-urban region south of Auckland: Pukekohe, Waiuku, Tuakau, Bombay and around 4,000 km² of farmland, market gardens and lifestyle blocks across the Franklin and northern Waikato districts. The company serves about 50,000 customers.
Counties Power is owned by the Counties Power Consumer Trust, whose beneficiaries are the customers connected to the network. The trust passes annual dividends back to consumers. The company also operates a contracting arm and has invested in renewable generation.
Pukekohe, Waiuku, Bombay and the Franklin growth corridor
Counties Power sits in the Franklin district between Vector to the north and Powerco to the south. The territory mixes intensive horticulture (the Pukekohe vegetable growing area is one of New Zealand's most productive), dairy farms, lifestyle blocks and rapid suburban growth around Pukekohe and Drury.
- About 50,000 customer connections on the network.
- Coverage from south Auckland (Bombay) to the northern Waikato, including Pukekohe, Waiuku, Tuakau, Pokeno and Port Waikato.
- Mostly overhead lines, reflecting the rural nature of the network.
- Investments in distributed solar and battery storage to support the energy transition.
The Auckland Council has identified Drury and Pukekohe as major growth areas under the Auckland Plan, with tens of thousands of new homes expected over the next two decades. Counties Power is upgrading its network to accommodate the growth.
Why Counties Power outages happen in the Franklin district
The network is rural and predominantly overhead, with a few denser pockets around Pukekohe and Waiuku. Three causes dominate.
Wind and storms from the Manukau Harbour
Westerly fronts crossing the Manukau Harbour and Tasman Sea regularly bring high winds across the Franklin lowlands. Coastal feeders around Waiuku and Awhitu are particularly exposed.
Shelter belts and macrocarpa lines
Farm shelter belts (macrocarpa, poplar) planted along property boundaries decades ago now reach the height of distribution lines. Vegetation contact is a regular cause of unplanned outages, especially in storms.
Vehicle and equipment strikes
State Highways 1, 22 and 2 cross the Counties Power network. Vehicle strikes on power poles, plus farm machinery and harvesting equipment contacting lines, account for a noticeable share of outages each year.
Counties Power outage map and 24/7 fault line
Counties Power outage map
Counties Power publishes a near real-time outage map covering the Franklin district and northern Waikato. The map shows current unplanned outages, estimated restoration times and planned works.
24/7 fault line
For an electricity fault, dial 0800 100 202. The line is staffed 24/7.
Outage alerts and planned works
Customers can subscribe to email and SMS notifications for unplanned outages and planned works. For large rural properties, this is often the fastest way to find out about an outage before noticing it at home.
Vector, Powerco neighbours and Franklin internet providers
Counties Power sits between two larger neighbours: Vector to the north and Powerco to the south. For a wider view of the New Zealand electricity market, see the New Zealand power outage page. For internet, fibre is mostly delivered by Chorus and retailed by Spark and One NZ.