Get connected FAQs
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Our priority is ensuring we can maintain a safe, reliable, quality supply of electricity throughout the network.
Scroll down for some helpful FAQs.
We’re here to help. Get in touch if you need help. Or, check out our FAQs.
Connection FAQs
Yes, there are certain areas that require a 3 phase power supply. A lot of rural blocks also require a 3 phase supply. Please contact MainPower on 0800 30 90 80 for more information.
The entire process of connecting to MainPower’s network and getting power to your property takes a minimum of 15 working days. At any time, you can contact MainPower to check the progress of your connection.
It’s important to know if you have an available power supply to your section. If you cannot locate the connection or are not sure, please contact MainPower for assistance, phone 0800 30 90 80.
To get connected to the MainPower network, you need to have a suitable power supply to your site. If you don’t have a power supply or you are not sure, you will need to complete a new power supply request.
Temporary supply connections give builders and other tradespeople access to electricity supply at a worksite where temporary power is required.
Your electrician or an approved provider, such as those listed below, can arrange a temporary builders’ supply with MainPower.
SafePower Services
03 343 3814
office@safepowerservices.co.nz
https://safepowerservices.co.nz/
Jamie Nutbrown Electrical
0800 563 583
022 069 6107
jamienutbrownelectrical@gmail.com
Bluecurrent (previously Vector Electrical Services )
0800 034 567
https://bluecurrent.co.nz/our-services/electrical
Hanmer Alpine Electrical & Air Conditioning
Office: 03 315 7955
After hours: 027 441 3101
andy.ockwell@alpineelectrical.nz
Areas serviced: Hanmer, Lyford, Rotherham, Waiau, Culverden, Engineers Camp, Harwarden, Waikari, Cheviot and Maruia township.
Please note, there may be a charge for processing a new connection. All costs for temporary power are the responsibility of the customer.
Network Harmonics are created by devices connected by the customer to the electricity network. These harmonics are typically referred to as grid pollution due to the effect they have on the power quality within the network.
This change in power quality can impact on the performance of sensitive devices such as computers, transformers and motors causing them to malfunction or fail.
The harmonics are created by non-linear loads. The most common piece of equipment responsible for the creation of harmonics is Variable Speed Drives (VSD’s). The harmonic currents created by these devices cause voltage distortion at various points in the network dependant on the system impedance.
These harmonics are produced by customer devices and therefore must be controlled at the site where they are produced. This is essential because controlling the individual sources will mitigate the flow of harmonics into the network. This will also mitigate the effects of the harmonics on the wider network.
Any customer with a cumulative VSD load exceeding 20kW must adhere to this standard.
Refer to our Rural Network Harmonics Standard for further details.
MainPower is responsible for delivering and maintaining a safe, secure and reliable power supply to the North Canterbury region.
We own and operate the electricity infrastructure that delivers electricity to homes and businesses from the national grid. Electricity retailers sell electricity to residential and business customers – this is who you receive your monthly bill from.
The electricity retailers operating in the North Canterbury region are listed below. ‘Accepts New Connections’ refers to retailers that can arrange a meter installation for a brand new electricity connection (e.g. new build house).
Retailer Name | Contact | Website Address | Accepts new connections |
Community Power (Plus Energy) | Energy) 0800 113 370
| communitypower.co.nz | No |
Contact Energy | Sign Up: | contact.co.nz | Yes |
Ecotricity | 0800 845 000 | ecotricity.co.nz | Yes |
Electric Kiwi | Live chat via website | electrickiwi.co.nz | No |
Future Energy | Live chat via website | future-energy.co.nz | No |
Frank Energy | Residential Customers: | Customers: frankenergy.co.nz
| No |
Genesis Energy | Residential Customers: | genesisenergy.co.nz | Yes |
GLOBUG | Sign Up: | globug.co.nz | No |
Kea | 03 390 0009 | keaenergy.nz |
|
Mercury Energy | Residential Customers: | mercury.co.nz | Yes |
Meridian Energy Ltd | 0800 496 496 | meridianenergy.co.nz | Yes |
Nova Energy | 0800 668 236 | novaenergy.co.nz | No |
Pioneer Energy | 0508 363 749 | pioneerenergy.co.nz | Yes |
Powershop | Sign Up: | powershop.co.nz | Yes |
Prime | 0800 402 403 | prime.co.nz | No |
Pulse Energy | 0800 785 733 | pulseenergy.co.nz | Yes |
Simply Energy | 0508 474 6759 | simplyenergy.co.nz | Yes |
Switch Utilities | 0800 794 824 | vocus.co.nz |
|
Trustpower | Sign Up: | trustpower.co.nz | Yes |
Capacity increase FAQs
You could check with the previous owner of your property.
Contact your electrician.
Get in touch with MainPower (0800 30 90 80, or info@mainpower.co.nz). There may be a fee for this service.
MainPower charges for increasing capacity at an ICP (Installation Control Point, i.e. where the house, shed etc. connects to the network). Please contact us to discuss these charges.
To start the process, check that the wiring inside your house or business is capable of taking the increased current. You electrician will be able to help you with this.
In some cases, in order to increase the load at an existing ICP (Installation Control Point, e.g. house or shed), MainPower will be required to carry out significant upgrades to the electricity distribution network (e.g. upgrading the transformers, power lines etc. supplying the ICP). This can incur a significant cost.
In order to cover this cost, MainPower charges for all capacity increases. This fee contributes towards any network upgrade work that may be required as a result of the specific capacity increase, or other capacity increases in the future. In this way, no single customer ends up being charged for the entire cost of a network upgrade, but rather the cost is spread across all customers who will benefit.
If you are thinking about altering the heating source within your home (e.g. going from a log burner, to multiple heat pumps) or you wish to run extra appliances from your home (e.g. charging an electric vehicle, or a spa pool), you may need to increase your capacity in order to meet the added demand of such appliances. Your electrician will be able to advise you on what will be required. MainPower are happy to work with your electrician, or to provide you with information directly. Get in touch by calling MainPower on 0800 30 90 80
Outage FAQs
Check your terms and conditions with your electricity retailer – it will detail notification periods for planned electricity network outages and any compensation clauses.
Check your insurance provisions – how long does power need to be off before the policy covers you.
Have a good back up plan and ensure your staff are trained.
Consider the use of manual eftpos and credit card options.
Can your site be supplied by a generator – know your capacity requirements, connection options and generator hire contact details.
Have alternative locations for storage of perishable goods and freezer blankets.
Have back-up alternative locations to work from and phone diversions to mobiles contingency in place and when the power comes on understand what equipment needs resetting.
If you will be affected by a planned outage, your electricity retailer will send you a letter in advance, so you can make other arrangements.
Planned outages are also listed on our website, visit the planned outages page.
Special consideration is given to the continuity of supply to customers whose health or livelihood could be adversely affected by an interruption. Priority customers include those who maintain essential services as well as medically dependent customers.
Customers with serious medical conditions, who rely on continuity of supply to support life, are treated as priority customers. Every effort is made to maintain continuity of supply and, if necessary, to advise them of any interruptions to supply so that alternate arrangements can be made. If you are a medically dependent customer, please ensure we are aware of your needs by contacting your electricity retail provider and letting them know. Or, contact us on 0800 30 90 80.
There are two types of power outage, planned and unplanned.
Planned power outages occur when we need to complete maintenance work on the network. If you will be affected by a planned outage, you will receive a notification from your chosen electricity retailer in advance.
Unplanned power outages occur when unforeseen circumstances cause damage to the network (e.g. car accidents, tree branches or other debris being blown into power lines etc.).
MainPower provides a 24-hour fault response service. When a customer’s property or actions have caused the fault, the responsible customer will be charged a call out fee.
Call outs caused by a MainPower network fault will not incur a fee.
MainPower call out fees
Fault call out during normal working hours (7:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday):
$228.00+GST minimum charge, plus travel.
Additional charges will be billed for any equipment required. Additional time during business hours will be charged at our standard rate ($114.00+GST per hour).
MainPower callouts fees are charged from for the time our staff leave a depot, to the time they return to a depot.
Fault call out afterhours:$342.00+GST minimum charge, plus travel.
Additional charges will be billed for any equipment required. Additional time will be charged at our standard rate ($114.00+GST per hour).
MainPower callouts fees are charged from for the time our staff leave a depot, to the time they return to a depot.
All chargeable call outs will incur a minimum fee for a two-hour period (plus travel costs). Where we are required to stand staff down as a result of attending an afterhours call out, we reserve the right to charge a stand down fee.
We’re here to help
If you need some assistance or advice, please get in touch with our team.
