Planning for no power on-farm
If you live rurally, it’s essential to be well-prepared for power outages as there are several different factors that will impact you, compared to other residential customers.
Rural customers may have no water for sewage pumps during a power outage. Make sure you have supplies of water on hand and a plan for your household so you know what to do when you are without electricity.
Rural customers should consider investing in a reliable generator and making sure you have enough fuel. Ask a local registered electrician for advice if you are not sure what size generator you need. Click here for our generator safety tips.
Please note: MainPower does not supply generators for planned or unplanned outages. To ensure continuity, it is the responsibility of the property owner to have a no-power plan in place. Please speak to your electrician for more information on hiring a generator for an outage.
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Food, water, and heat
- If you have the option of using a gas BBQ/camping stove, consider storing a spare gas canister.
- In rural areas, when the power is off, your water pump might not work. Be prepared by storing emergency water supplies for drinking.
- Store a sealed plastic box full of food that doesn’t need to be cooked or refrigerated (such as crackers, preserves, and chocolate).
- Keep blankets and sleeping bags handy in case you are left without a heat source during a cold time of year.
- If you don’t have access to water in a power outage, keep a bottle of sanitiser handy for bathroom and food handling needs.
Lighting
- Keep torches and spare batteries in a place that’s easy to access.
- Visit your local hardware or camping/outdoor store for long-lasting emergency candles. Store the candles and a full box of matches in a place that’s easy to find in the dark.
- Also be prepared with battery-operated lighting in case your power goes out at night.
Protection
- To protect household electrical appliances from power interruptions, consider using a surge protection device.
- If you have electric doors on your garage or live in an electronically gated area, make sure you know how to manually override the system.
- If you have a house alarm, make sure you have a backup battery supply during an outage. Check with your house alarm provider for more information.
- Make sure you have enough mobile data for internet use (if applicable).
- Keep a first aid kit stocked and handy.
- Consider if you need a generator. Ask a local registered electrician for advice if you are not sure what size generator you need.
Outage fact sheet
Here’s a useful fact sheet for planning for an outage.
This fact sheet is designed to inform you about using generators safely in the event of a power outage.
We’re here to help
If you need some assistance or advice, please get in touch with our team.
