By Live 24/7 Scanpower fault line
Power out in the Scanpower network area?
Call Scanpower on 06 374 8053, 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 Scanpower.
The live network status is at www.scanpower.co.nz. Check it first, the cut may already be logged.
Scanpower at a glance
The numbers behind your network bill
Connection points (ICPs)
~6,500
Tararua District
Network conductor
~1,500 km
Wind-farm host country
24/7 fault line
06 374 8053
Direct dial
ComCom regulatory path
DPP4 2025-30
Default Price-Quality Path
Where Scanpower owns the wires
Coverage: Tararua District
| Area | Density profile | Network type |
|---|---|---|
| Dannevirke | Provincial town, dairy service | Mixed |
| Woodville + Pahiatua | Small town + rural | Overhead |
| Tararua hill country | Sheep, beef, wind farms | Long overhead, exposed |
| Eketahuna + south Tararua | Sparse rural | Overhead |
The role, decoded
What Scanpower actually does (and does not do)
Scanpower 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 Scanpower 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 Scanpower 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 Scanpower lines charge shows up on your bill
Roughly 30 to 45 per cent of your retail bill is the Scanpower 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 Scanpower'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 Scanpower affects your bill
Lives next to NZ's wind-farm heartland
The Tararua and Ruahine ranges host some of NZ's largest wind farms: Te Apiti, Tararua, Te Rere Hau, Mt Munro. Scanpower's network connects these generators into Transpower's grid. Local distribution feeders run through some of the country's most wind-exposed terrain, which simultaneously means high outage risk and high embedded-generation potential.
One of NZ's smallest LCs
With ~6,500 ICPs, Scanpower is one of NZ's smallest licensed distributors. The Commerce Commission's regulatory administrative burden falls hard on small LCs (same compliance reporting as a much larger network). Per-customer fixed daily charges reflect this loaded administrative cost on top of the rural geography.
Trust dividends, small but steady
Scanpower is owned by the Tararua Power Consumers Trust, which distributes annual dividends. The dividends are small (typically NZ$50 to $150 per connection) but consistent.
How to reach Scanpower
Scanpower contact methods, by the reason you are calling
| Reason | Channel | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Power cut, fallen line, network fault | 06 374 8053 | 24/7, free-call |
| Life-threatening hazard | 111, then Scanpower | 24/7 |
| Appliance damage claim | Claim form on Scanpower site | Online, 4 to 8 week processing |
| Planned outage notification | Live status board | 5 to 10 working days notice |
| Billing question | Your retailer (Scanpower does not bill end customers) | Retailer's hours |
| Unresolved complaint | Utilities Disputes (free, independent) | After Scanpower's final written answer |
Where your time actually pays
What a Scanpower household should actually do
You cannot change who delivers your electricity. You can change what you do about it.
Hill-country ICPs: plan for wind-driven outages
Tararua hill country sees some of the highest sustained wind speeds in NZ. Multi-day outages after severe wind events are realistic.
Damage claim: equipment failure framing
Frame around equipment failure on restoration with photos, receipts and electrician's report.
Verify the trust dividend
Confirm the Tararua Power Consumers Trust credit is being applied to your account.
The Selectra expert answers
Frequently asked questions about Scanpower
Scanpower's 24/7 fault line is 06 374 8053. Use it for any power cut, downed line or fault across the Tararua District (Dannevirke, Woodville, Pahiatua, Eketahuna). For an immediate hazard, dial 111 first.
Scanpower is owned by the Tararua Power Consumers Trust, a community trust serving consumers in the Tararua District. The trust distributes modest annual dividends. The Commerce Commission regulates Scanpower's prices through DPP4.
No. Scanpower is the regulated monopoly distributor for the Tararua District. You can switch retailer any day, but the Scanpower lines charge is passed through unchanged. North is Centralines plus Powerco; Powerco also wraps around the Tararua district to the west (Manawatu) and south (Wairarapa).