Top Ten Reasons New Zealanders Find Power Cuts Frustrating

Harrisons Energy Reveals Top Ten Reasons New Zealanders Find Power Cuts So Frustrating

Harrisons Energy has revealed the top things that Kiwis find frustrating about power cuts with half-cooked meals and not being able to make a cup of tea or coffee topping the list.

Worrying about the freezer defrosting, no TV to entertain the kids and not being able to find the loo in the dark are also key annoyances according to the top ten list that the family owned energy company shared today. Harrisons Energy put together the list after surveying the 2,331 people that follow the brand’s Facebook page.

The results showed that while some lucky Kiwis never experience a blackout (6 per cent), 57 percent are interrupted at least a couple of times per year, and 33 percent lose power 3-10 times per year. An unfortunate few (4 percent) are in the dark 11-20 times per year.

It seems that once the lights are out in New Zealand households, it can take some time for them to come back on. On average, the majority (65 percent) have to endure more than an hour without power each time they are cut off. Four per cent are looking at more than five hours without electricity during each power cut.

Despite the disruption caused by power cuts, most participants don’t have a back-up power system with the main reasons being that they can’t afford them (48 percent) and that they don’t know enough about the technology or how to go about shopping for one (17 percent).

Phil Harrison, Director at Harrisons Energy, said: “Power cuts are a fact of life for many of us in New Zealand – we’ve all had to fumble around for a torch or candles and abandon a half-cooked dinner because the lights have suddenly gone out. At Harrisons, we’re all about keeping the lights on. Knowing how frustrating our customers find power cuts is very valuable and will help us make better recommendations on how they can avoid them – whether that’s with different energy sources or more advanced power storage systems.”

To help customers manage the cost of installing a solar energy system, with the option of including solar battery storage, Harrisons Energy has introduced Solar Easy Pay. This arrangement allows customers to pay for their solar energy system over five years. No deposit is required, making solar achievable for more homeowners wanting to enjoy the financial and environmental benefits of solar energy. Harrisons believes the payment plan is the first of its kind in New Zealand.

For more information on Harrisons Energy, visit harrisonsenergy.co.nz

Kiwis’ Top Ten Power Cut Annoyances

1. Not being able to cook (30%)
2. No hot water for tea or coffee (10%)
3. Worrying about the freezer defrosting and food wastage (9.6%)
4. Being in the dark and not being able to read/do other tasks (9%)
5. Lack of notice and stress about how long it will last (9%)
6. Unable to access the Internet (9%)
7. No water (7.5%)
8. No TV (7%)
9. Not being able to entertain the kids (5.5%)
10. Finding the loo in the dark (4.8%)

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