The Lines Company’s new outage portal providing customers with more real-time information about outages goes live on June 16. Photo: Supplied
Customers of The Lines Company (TLC) will soon have access to a new online portal designed to provide faster and more detailed information during planned and unplanned power outages.
The upgraded web-based platform is scheduled to go live on June 16 and will provide real-time updates, interactive maps and information on restoration progress.
The new system has been designed to perform better during major weather events, when large numbers of customers may be seeking information at the same time.
TLC general manager digital Craig Hackett said staying informed during outages was important for customers, particularly during severe weather.
“The refreshed portal gives customers a faster, clearer and more dependable way to find outage information, especially during severe weather when lots of people are looking for updates at the same time,” he said.
The portal will also display planned maintenance outages, so customers can see when work is scheduled and what impact it may have on their power supply.
Customers who do not have internet access or who prefer not to use online services will still be able to report faults and receive outage information by phone through TLC’s existing call centre and automated phone services.
The outage portal is one of the first projects to come from the shared services partnership TLC signed with Counties Energy at the start of the year. TLC adapted Counties Energy’s existing outage platform to reduce development costs and accelerate service delivery.
The new outage portal will be available through TLC’s website from June 16, and customers are being encouraged to check the portal for the latest outage information and updates.
TLC services 18,000 electricity customers in the King Country, Ruapehu District and Central Plateau, with a network covering 13,700 square kilometres and more than 4500km of power lines.
Meanwhile, in another power collaboration to the north, Waipā Networks and Wel Networks are establishing a collaboration which will enable Waipā use an established Wel platform to modernise the management of its electricity network.
The Advanced Distribution Management System is a software platform used to monitor, control and optimise the distribution of electricity across the network. Extending Wel’s control room platform in a co-hosted setup, will give Waipā Networks greater real-time visibility of its network.
The Lines Company’s new outage portal providing customers with more real-time information about outages goes live on June 16. Photo: Supplied
