Fluctuating power supply FAQs

• What causes poor quality power supply?

  There can be different causes for this. Loose or corroded connections either at the house or on the powerlines can cause voltage fluctuations. This is often seen as flickering lights.

  Low voltage due to overloading on the network, loose connections, or too small a conductor wire carrying power to your house may cause dimming of your lights. In extreme cases, a loose connection can cause electric shocks from metal appliances and surfaces in your home.

  Power surges and spikes can be caused by lightning, power switching on the lines, household appliances drawing too much power in either your or your neighbour’s homes, strong winds causing lines to clash, trees touching the line, vehicle accidents involving powerlines, or birds or other animals on the lines.

• What can I do about poor power supply?​

  Most of the time fluctuations are a one-off case and won’t need further investigation. However if the problem continues, you might like to investigate to find out the cause. You could have an electrician install a surge protector in your distribution board. A cheaper option however is to ensure you have power surge protectors on all electronic appliances such as computers and televisions. 

• Who pays to fix power supply problems?

  If the problem is caused by an issue on the Northpower network, we'll fix it at no charge.

  If the problem is with your property wiring or equipment, you'll need to pay for it to be repaired.