MainPower welcomes new Chief Executive, Sean Horgan

MainPower New Zealand is pleased to announce the appointment of its new Chief Executive, Sean Horgan.

Horgan joins MainPower in January 2026 and brings a wealth of experience, having held senior leadership positions across the industry including CEO roles at Waipa Networks Ltd and The Lines Company. With a strong background in the electricity industry, he is well-positioned to lead MainPower and embrace opportunities that will benefit the North Canterbury community.

Tony King, Chair of the MainPower Board, says the appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the organisation.

“We are delighted to welcome Sean Horgan to MainPower. He impressed us with his people-centric approach, strategic thinking, leadership capability and commitment to delivering value for our customers and communities. We also value his wide connections and knowledge of the industry and its participants as we focus on collaboration with other electricity distribution businesses and industry players.”

King also acknowledged Damien Whiffen who has served as Acting Chief Executive since May 2025 and will continue to act in this capacity until Horgan’s arrival.

“Damien has led MainPower through this transitional period and the Board thanks him for his commitment and contribution. We look forward to continuing to work alongside him in his role of Chief Assets and Operations Officer.”

The incoming Chief Executive says he is looking forward to joining the MainPower team and contributing to the organisation’s ongoing success.

“It’s a privilege to be joining MainPower – an organisation with a proud history and a clear commitment to serving North Canterbury. I’m genuinely excited about the opportunities ahead and look forward to working with the Board, our people and our stakeholders to deliver a future that creates real local value for our community.”

MainPower is the electricity lines company serving the communities of Waimakariri, Hurunui, and Kaikōura. With a commitment to safety and reliability, MainPower ensures a secure electricity supply to over 46,000 connections, positively impacting the lives of the people who call North Canterbury home.

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Important notifications

Hot water load testing under way ahead of winter

Until mid‑April, we’re working closely with retailers to carry out hot water load testing as we prepare our network for the coming winter season.

These tests run for a couple of hours each day, Monday to Friday, with no testing taking place over weekends. Because each test window is relatively short, customers are unlikely to notice any changes to their hot water supply.

The purpose of this work is to help us better understand how much controllable load is available during the summer months. Gaining accurate insights now means we can model customer savings more effectively by reducing system load at peak times. It also helps us assess whether this load flexibility could assist Transpower in deferring an upcoming local transmission upgrade.

This testing is an important part of ensuring a resilient, efficient network that supports our community.

MainPower Trust elections

Voting is open for the 2026 MainPower Trust election.

Voting packs have been emailed or posted by Electionz.com to everyone who pays a power bill on the MainPower network. You need to have the unique ID provided to cast your vote.

If you haven’t received a voting pack, or can’t find it, you can get a replacement by contacting iro@electionz.com.  For full details of the candidates, visit mainpowertrust.co.nz/trustee-elections/

Make the most of this opportunity to have your say on the future of MainPower – and your community.

Voting closes midday Friday 6 March 2026. 

Privacy Policy

Unplanned outage

Fault – Hanmer Springs / Lewis Pass
MainPower is aware of a fault affecting the Hanmer Springs and Lewis Pass areas. Our crews are currently on site at the fault location. Restoration is estimated to be early this evening.
We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Please treat any fallen or damaged lines as live and maintain a 10 meter distance.

Is your outage not listed?

Troubleshoot your outage
Treat all lines as live during the outage period; power may be restored at any time. If you require further information, please call MainPower’s 24-hour faults line. To report an emergency, call 111.

Outage notifications

Hot water load testing under way ahead of winter

Until mid‑April, we’re working closely with retailers to carry out hot water load testing as we prepare our network for the coming winter season.

These tests run for a couple of hours each day, Monday to Friday, with no testing taking place over weekends. Because each test window is relatively short, customers are unlikely to notice any changes to their hot water supply.

The purpose of this work is to help us better understand how much controllable load is available during the summer months. Gaining accurate insights now means we can model customer savings more effectively by reducing system load at peak times. It also helps us assess whether this load flexibility could assist Transpower in deferring an upcoming local transmission upgrade.

This testing is an important part of ensuring a resilient, efficient network that supports our community.

MainPower Trust elections

Voting is open for the 2026 MainPower Trust election.

Voting packs have been emailed or posted by Electionz.com to everyone who pays a power bill on the MainPower network. You need to have the unique ID provided to cast your vote.

If you haven’t received a voting pack, or can’t find it, you can get a replacement by contacting iro@electionz.com.  For full details of the candidates, visit mainpowertrust.co.nz/trustee-elections/

Make the most of this opportunity to have your say on the future of MainPower – and your community.

Voting closes midday Friday 6 March 2026. 

Privacy Policy

Unplanned outage

Fault – Hanmer Springs / Lewis Pass
MainPower is aware of a fault affecting the Hanmer Springs and Lewis Pass areas. Our crews are currently on site at the fault location. Restoration is estimated to be early this evening.
We will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available. Please treat any fallen or damaged lines as live and maintain a 10 meter distance.

Is your outage not listed?

Troubleshoot your outage
Treat all lines as live during the outage period; power may be restored at any time. If you require further information, please call MainPower’s 24-hour faults line. To report an emergency, call 111.

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