By Live 24/7 Network Tasman fault line
Power out in the Network Tasman network area?
Call Network Tasman on 03 547 7400, 24 hours a day. Your retailer cannot dispatch a crew. For a fallen line, sparks or any fire risk, dial 111 first, stay at least 8 metres clear, then ring Network Tasman.
The live network status is at www.networktasman.co.nz. Check it first, the cut may already be logged.
Network Tasman at a glance
The numbers behind your network bill
Connection points (ICPs)
~37,000
Greater Nelson + Tasman Bays
Network conductor
~3,500 km
Urban + horticulture
24/7 fault line
03 547 7400
Direct dial
ComCom regulatory path
DPP4 2025-30
Default Price-Quality Path
Where Network Tasman owns the wires
Coverage: Tasman Bays, Motueka, Mapua and Golden Bay
| Area | Density profile | Network type |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond + outer Nelson suburbs | Suburban | Mixed |
| Motueka + Riwaka | Horticulture (apple, kiwi, hops) | Overhead, irrigation feeders |
| Mapua + Ruby Bay | Coastal suburban + horticulture | Mostly overhead |
| Golden Bay (Takaka, Collingwood) | Remote rural + tourism | Long overhead, isolated |
| Tasman rural + St Arnaud | Sparse alpine | Long single-feeder runs |
Source: Network Tasman Asset Management Plan. Central Nelson CBD is Nelson Electricity; east is Marlborough Lines; west is Buller Electricity.
The role, decoded
What Network Tasman actually does (and does not do)
Network Tasman is a regulated electricity distributor: poles, wires, transformers, substations and the crews that maintain them. It is not a generator and not a retailer.
What Network Tasman owns and operates
- · Sub-transmission lines from Transpower grid exit points (GXPs).
- · 11kV and 22kV distribution feeders across the service area.
- · Distribution transformers and pillar boxes on your street.
- · Low-voltage service mains to your meter.
- · The 24/7 control room, fault crews and SCADA operations.
- · Network connection approvals (new builds, solar export, large EV chargers).
What Network Tasman does not do
- · Generate the electricity (gentailers and independents do).
- · Set the c/kWh rate on your bill (your retailer does).
- · Send you a monthly bill or take direct debits.
- · Own your smart meter: most are run by independent metering equipment providers (Intellihub, SmartCo, Metrix).
- · Manage retail plans, fixed terms or loyalty credits.
The hidden 30 to 45 per cent
How the Network Tasman lines charge shows up on your bill
Roughly 30 to 45 per cent of your retail bill is the Network Tasman lines pass-through, collected by your retailer and paid through. It has a fixed daily component, a variable energy component, and a time-of-use overlay.
| Component | Standard user | Low user | What drives it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed daily charge | ~80 to 130 c/day | ~15 to 30 c/day (capped by regulation) | Capacity, sub-network |
| Variable energy charge | ~7 to 12 c/kWh | ~10 to 18 c/kWh (low-user offset phasing out) | Volume + time-of-use window |
| Peak ToU multiplier | Up to ~2x on winter weekday peaks | Same multiplier applies | Cold-evening grid stress (~7-9am, 5-9pm winter) |
Indicative ranges drawn from Network Tasman's Pricing Methodology and Commerce Commission Information Disclosure. Exact c/day and c/kWh depend on your ICP's sub-pricing zone. Always check the lines-charge line item on your own bill.
What most pages will not tell you
Three structural facts that change how Network Tasman affects your bill
Operates two licensed distributors
Network Tasman holds a unique position: it runs its own network (Tasman Bays + Motueka) and operates Nelson Electricity's CBD-only network under contract. The two LCs are separately licensed and separately regulated, but share crews, control room and pricing methodology development. The urban-Nelson side is covered in its own guide (link in the coverage notes above).
Horticulture peak demand patterns
Motueka, Riwaka and Mapua are intensive horticulture country: apples, kiwifruit, hops. Frost-protection fans on cold spring nights and irrigation pumps in summer drive concentrated demand peaks on rural feeders. Frost-fan startups in particular create sub-minute load spikes that test feeder integrity.
Golden Bay isolation realities
Golden Bay (Takaka, Collingwood) sits behind the Takaka Hill, accessible only via a winding road that closes for slips and storms. Network Tasman supplies the bay via long overhead feeders that face the same access challenges as the road. Multi-day Golden Bay outages after storms are realistic. Some larger Golden Bay properties have invested in solar + battery backup as standard.
How to reach Network Tasman
Network Tasman contact methods, by the reason you are calling
| Reason | Channel | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Power cut, fallen line, network fault | 03 547 7400 | 24/7, free-call |
| Life-threatening hazard | 111, then Network Tasman | 24/7 |
| Appliance damage claim | Claim form on Network Tasman site | Online, 4 to 8 week processing |
| Planned outage notification | Live status board | 5 to 10 working days notice |
| Billing question | Your retailer (Network Tasman does not bill end customers) | Retailer's hours |
| Unresolved complaint | Utilities Disputes (free, independent) | After Network Tasman's final written answer |
Where your time actually pays
What a Network Tasman household should actually do
You cannot change who delivers your electricity. You can change what you do about it.
Frost-fan and orchard ICPs: confirm horticulture tariff class
Network Tasman publishes horticulture-specific network tariffs. Make sure your retailer is billing against the right class for irrigation or frost protection load profiles.
Golden Bay: solar + battery is realistic insurance
For Takaka and Collingwood ICPs, multi-day outages after storms are realistic. Solar + battery storage paired with a generator is now standard for medium-to-large Golden Bay properties.
Verify your trust dividend
The Network Tasman Trust dividend follows the registered ICP consumer. Confirm via your retailer that the credit lands on your account each year.
The Selectra expert answers
Frequently asked questions about Network Tasman
Network Tasman's 24/7 fault line is 03 547 7400. Use it for any power cut, downed line or fault across Tasman Bays, Motueka, Mapua and Golden Bay. For an immediate hazard, dial 111 first. CBD Nelson is on a separate Nelson Electricity network (see the coverage notes above).
Network Tasman is owned by the Network Tasman Trust, a community trust serving consumers in the Tasman footprint. The trust distributes annual dividends to consumers. The Commerce Commission regulates Network Tasman's prices through DPP4.
Nelson Electricity owns the small CBD-only network in central Nelson city. Network Tasman operates Nelson Electricity's network under contract: same crews, same control room, same restoration response, but separate regulatory licensing and ownership. The two LCs are legally distinct.
Yes, via Network Tasman directly (networktasman.co.nz). Frame around equipment failure on restoration. Processing 4 to 8 weeks.
No. Network Tasman is the regulated monopoly distributor for Tasman Bays, Motueka and Golden Bay. You can switch retailer any day, but the Network Tasman lines charge is passed through unchanged.