By Live 24/7 OtagoNet fault line
Power out in the OtagoNet network area?
Call OtagoNet on 0800 808 587, 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 OtagoNet.
The live network status is at www.powernet.co.nz. Check it first, the cut may already be logged.
OtagoNet at a glance
The numbers behind your network bill
Connection points (ICPs)
~16,000
South + east Otago
Network conductor
~3,300 km
Sparse rural + coastal
24/7 fault line
0800 808 587
PowerNet shared
PowerNet + Marlborough Lines
Joint venture ownership
Unusual structure
Where OtagoNet owns the wires
Coverage: south and east Otago
| Area | Density profile | Network type |
|---|---|---|
| Balclutha + Milton | Provincial town + dairy | Mixed |
| Catlins coast + Owaka | Sparse coastal + farms | Long overhead |
| South Otago rural | Sheep, beef, dairy | Long overhead feeders |
| East Otago (Palmerston) | Coastal + small town | Overhead |
The role, decoded
What OtagoNet actually does (and does not do)
OtagoNet 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 OtagoNet 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 OtagoNet 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 OtagoNet lines charge shows up on your bill
Roughly 30 to 45 per cent of your retail bill is the OtagoNet 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 OtagoNet'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 OtagoNet affects your bill
Joint-venture ownership, unusual in NZ
OtagoNet is a joint venture (50/50) between PowerNet (which operates the network) and Marlborough Lines (the South Island distributor based in Blenheim). JV ownership of an electricity distributor is rare in NZ. PowerNet handles operations; both partners share the regulated returns.
Long sparse-rural feeders dominate the cost base
OtagoNet's footprint covers the long rural corridor between Dunedin (Aurora territory) and Southland (TPC). Customer density is low; conductor kilometres per customer are among the highest in NZ. Fixed daily charges reflect the long-feeder cost recovery model.
Same PowerNet operator and fault line as EIL and TPC
Calling OtagoNet means calling PowerNet, which also operates Electricity Invercargill and The Power Company. The shared operator structure means dispatched crews can be cross-allocated across the three networks in major events, but local restoration priorities still favour each network's own customers.
How to reach OtagoNet
OtagoNet contact methods, by the reason you are calling
| Reason | Channel | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Power cut, fallen line, network fault | 0800 808 587 | 24/7, free-call |
| Life-threatening hazard | 111, then OtagoNet | 24/7 |
| Appliance damage claim | Claim form on OtagoNet site | Online, 4 to 8 week processing |
| Planned outage notification | Live status board | 5 to 10 working days notice |
| Billing question | Your retailer (OtagoNet does not bill end customers) | Retailer's hours |
| Unresolved complaint | Utilities Disputes (free, independent) | After OtagoNet's final written answer |
Where your time actually pays
What a OtagoNet household should actually do
You cannot change who delivers your electricity. You can change what you do about it.
When you call: mention your ICP and address to route the dispatch
PowerNet's shared fault line handles three distinct networks. Be ready with your ICP number or street address so the right crew gets routed.
Long-feeder rural ICPs: ask about agricultural tariffs
Confirm with your retailer that dairy shed or irrigation loads are billed on the right OtagoNet network tariff class.
Damage claim: equipment failure framing
Frame around equipment failure on restoration with photos, receipts and electrician's report.
The Selectra expert answers
Frequently asked questions about OtagoNet
OtagoNet's 24/7 fault line is 0800 808 587, handled by PowerNet. Use it for any power cut, downed line or fault across Balclutha, Catlins, south and east Otago. For an immediate hazard, dial 111 first.
OtagoNet is a 50/50 joint venture between PowerNet (which operates the network) and Marlborough Lines. The JV ownership structure is unusual in the NZ distribution sector. The Commerce Commission regulates OtagoNet's prices through DPP4.
PowerNet. PowerNet operates OtagoNet under management contract, sharing crews, control room, SCADA and fault dispatch with Electricity Invercargill and The Power Company. The three LCs are legally distinct but share the operating apparatus.
No. OtagoNet is the regulated monopoly distributor for south and east Otago. You can switch retailer any day, but the OtagoNet lines charge is passed through unchanged. North is Aurora Energy; west is The Power Company (see the previous answer for the dedicated guide).