Almost 9,000 southern households remain without power and for some this could be reality for several more days.

Widespread wind damage, from last week's storm, caused a major breakdown in the south's electricity network and resulted in a State of Emergency being declared in Southland and South Otago.

PowerNetChief Executive Paul Blue said that while good progress had been made, as at 12pm on Monday (27 October) approximately 6,250 customers in Southland and 2,500 in Otago still remained without power.

“We’re now at the point where areas may take longer to restore as they are more complex and with widespread damage."

"People should prepare to be without power for several days yet," Blue said.

“Support from our colleagues around the country is arriving now to bolster our own crews and we will have around 220 field staff available by Wednesday (29 Oct)."

“We’re also very aware that there will be individuals who remain without power in areas where power has been restored."

"Customers might see their neighbours with power but still be without any themselves."

"This is likely to be due to more property-specific damage and we will start addressing those issues soon."

“We are asking people to continue to be patient – we know it is hard, but we will get there."

"In the meantime, please check on your neighbours and support them where you can."

Blue said there is also concern that people want to forge ahead and clear debris and lines themselves.

“Please don’t do this, as it can be very dangerous."

"Make sure you have reported broken poles, lines down or trees on lines to us and wait for our teams to get there.”

PowerNet is continuing to work closely with rural agencies and Emergency Management Southland and Otago to identify dairy farms without power and prioritise getting them restored or generators set up, he said.

By the Numbers as at 12pm 27/10

The Power Company Limited network (Southland)

Total Customers: 38,200

Customers without power: 6,250

OtagoNet network (South Otago)

Total Customers: 15,700

Customers without power: 2,500

Please note these numbers will change as we undertake repairs and identify faults on the network.