Powerco outages today
Thanks to our real-time visualization tool, you can instantly check the number of Powerco outage reports in your area and across the country.
I have a Powerco 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.
Powerco, the network that runs across five North Island regions
Powerco Limited is the second-largest electricity distributor in New Zealand by kilometres of network, with about 29,200 km of lines and around 360,000 electricity customers. It also runs about 6,300 km of gas pipelines, making it one of only two New Zealand companies (with Vector) that distribute both electricity and natural gas.
Powerco is jointly owned by Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC) and AMP Capital, both Australian infrastructure investors. The head office is in New Plymouth, the historical birthplace of the company through the 1995 merger of Taranaki Energy and the original Powerco of Whanganui.
Five regions, from Coromandel to Wairarapa
Powerco's electricity network covers eastern Waikato, western Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, most of Manawatū-Whanganui and Wairarapa. The territory is split between two non-contiguous areas: the central North Island (Taranaki, Waikato, BoP) and the lower North Island (Manawatū, Wairarapa).
- Around 360,000 electricity customer connections.
- About 113,000 natural gas customers across Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Hawke's Bay, Manawatū-Whanganui and Wellington.
- Cities served include Tauranga, New Plymouth, Whanganui, Palmerston North, Masterton and Thames-Coromandel.
- Western Bay of Plenty electricity demand is expected to double by 2050, driving a 10-year, nine-project plan with Transpower.
In October 2025 Powerco confirmed an agreement to acquire Firstlight Network, the lines company serving Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Wairoa, subject to regulatory approval. This would extend the Powerco footprint into the east coast of the North Island.
Why Powerco outages happen across the central and lower North Island
Powerco's territory mixes urban centres with extensive rural networks, including dairy and forestry country. Outages on the network are dominated by three drivers.
Wind, storms and Wairarapa exposure
Wairarapa, the southern coast of the network, regularly sees gale-force northerlies funnelling through Cook Strait. Taranaki coastal feeders face Tasman Sea storms. The 2023 storms across the lower North Island caused extended outages on multiple rural feeders.
Trees, vegetation and forestry
Powerco runs one of the largest vegetation management programs in New Zealand. Forestry blocks in the central North Island, native bush in Coromandel and shelter belts on dairy farms all contribute to tree-on-line outages.
Demand growth in western Bay of Plenty
Tauranga and the wider western Bay of Plenty are growing rapidly. Powerco and Transpower have published a joint plan to deliver nine major electricity infrastructure projects over the next decade to support an expected doubling of electricity demand by 2050.
Network visibility, hosting capacity and the Powering Change plan
Powerco has launched a low-voltage visibility platform across its network and a public utility-scale distributed generation hosting capacity map, so renewable generators can identify where to connect without overloading the grid. The Powering Change platform consolidates network data on demand growth, hosting capacity and decarbonisation pathways.
From 1 April 2026, Powerco's regulated delivery charges will increase across its regions, in line with the multi-year price path agreed with the Commerce Commission. The investment plan covers reliability, growth, asset replacement and resilience.
Powerco outage map, fault line and Powerco Connect
Powerco outage map
Powerco publishes a near real-time outage map covering all five regions. Customers can search by address or postcode and see estimated restoration time, the cause of the fault and the number of affected properties.
24/7 fault line
For an electricity fault, dial 0800 27 27 27. For a gas leak or emergency, dial 0800 27 27 27 (option 2). Both are staffed 24/7.
Powerco Connect for new connections
Powerco Connect is the company's online portal for new connections, large-scale loads and modifications. Customers planning to install solar, an EV charger or a heat pump can submit a request and follow it through to commissioning.
Chorus, Tuatahi fibre and lower North Island internet providers
For a wider view of how the New Zealand electricity market works and where each lines company operates, see the New Zealand power outage page. For internet outages on the same footprint, fibre is wholesaled in Taranaki, BoP, Whanganui and Hamilton by Tuatahi First Fibre (formerly Ultrafast Fibre), and elsewhere by Chorus. Retail is shared between Spark, One NZ and 2Degrees.