Aurora Energy Preparedness for Covid-19 Level 4

Aurora Energy Chief Executive Richard Fletcher said: “As a lifeline utility, Aurora Energy is well-prepared to manage the impact of the pandemic response on our organisation and ensure security of electricity supply for our customers.

“We have again enacted our pandemic response plan that is designed to protect the wellbeing of our people and ensure that essential services are maintained. These steps include:

• Implementing working from home for all but essential personnel
• Ensuring key personnel are separated from one another
• Activating response plans with our contractors with crews in the field
• Restricting travel and in-person meetings

“Aurora Energy will continue to respond to emergency faults and carry out essential safety work on the network during the COVID-19 response, including at Alert Level 4.

“When we or our contractor crews are in the community, we ask that members of the public enforce physical separation distancing and continue to act safely around our electricity equipment.

“As usual, to report a safety concern such as fallen power lines or damaged electrical equipment, please contact Aurora Energy immediately on 0800 22 00 05.

“While New Zealand remains at COVID-19 Alert Level 4, Aurora Energy will be deferring all non-essential work on the network, including planned work and customer work. During this period, there will be no planned power outages, unless for essential safety work.

“No visitors are allowed into our offices in Dunedin and Cromwell except on essential business and by prior arrangement. Please call us first on freephone 0800 22 00 05 to discuss your query.

“Our response has been made to protect both our team and members of the public and ensure we can keep the lights on. We continue to monitor the situation and will update as it changes.

“We’ve got through this before, and we can do it again. Please take care of each other, be patient and be kind and please contact us if you need more information about our response.”

ENDS

For further information contact Aurora Energy External Relations Team, 03 742 0931

Aurora Energy is New Zealand’s seventh largest electricity network by customer connections, supplying electricity to 91,000 homes, farms and businesses in Dunedin, Central Otago and Queenstown Lakes. Aurora Energy Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dunedin City Holdings Limited, owned by the Dunedin City Council.