Frequently Asked Questions

The Lines Company are one of the many different electricity distributors that maintain the electricity network within New Zealand. The Lines Company service the King Country region of New Zealand from Kawhia and Otorohanga in the north, to Ohakune in the south, Mokau in the west to Mangakino and Turangi in the east. What is unique to The Lines Company is that they bill you seperately from your electricity retailer (eg Genesis, King Country Energy etc.).

Load Control, also known as Ripple Control, is a way that electricity distribution companies can reduce the demand placed on their network. When demand on the electrical network is high, such as cold winter mornings and evenings, a signal is sent through the power lines to a ripple switch at your home. This switch can turn your hot water cylinder on and off to help reduce the demand on the network. Load Control happens throughout all areas of New Zealand.

Although Load Control happens all over New Zealand, customers within The Lines Company network are unique in that their lines charges are based on how much power they use during these times of Load Control. At this stage this only applies to customers with SmartMeters and Digital TOU Meters as pictured.

If you have an old style meter, your bill is not calculated on your demand during Load Control periods. Instead your bill is calculated using a complex formula based on how much power you use in total over a 92 day period during the winter months.

There is no set schedule for Load Controlling. The Lines Company can Load Control at any time but it is more common in the Winter months during peak times on cold frosty mornings and cold evenings. As people get out of bed in the morning and come home in the evening, they naturally need to heat their homes, cook meals, use washers and dryers and this places demand on the electricity network.

There are several ways to know when The Lines Company are Load Controlling.

1. Check your SmartMeter.

If the Pulse 2 light is flashing they are currently Load Controlling. If the Pulse 2 light is on steady then they are not Load Controlling. Make sure it is Pulse 2 you are looking at as the Pulse 1 light flashes too but has nothing to do with Load Control.

Unfortunately this is the only method that The Lines Company admits is 100% accurate. Having to constantly check your meter, most of which are outside of your home, is extremely inconvenient.

2. Go to The Lines Company website. There is a map that shows when Load Control is pending (Orange), when Load Control is active (Red) and when there is no Load Control (Green). To go to The Lines Company website, click here.

3. Download the TLC app for your smartphone. The TLC app sends you a notification when Load Control is pending, when Load Control is active and when Load Control has ended. The app also has a visual map the same as the TLC website. For more information on the TLC Smartphone App, click here.

4. Rent a SWITCHit.

You can rent a SWITCHit device from The Lines Company at a cost of $3.11 per month. When the SWITCHit is plugged in the LED light will be green when there is no Load Control and the light will turn red when Load Control is active. You can plug any appliance into the front of the SWITCHit and when a period of Load Control starts, that appliance will be automatically turned off. Once Load Control has ended, the appliance will be turned on again. For more information on the SWITCHit, click here.

Load Control Pending means that the demand on the electricity network is high and that a period of Load Control is likely to occur soon. Knowing when Load Control is pending gives you an opportunity to turn off any unnecessary appliances before Load Control starts. Reducing the power you use during Load Control periods will help to reduce your TLC bill.

After a period of Load Control, the TLC Load Control map and smartphone app will usually return to pending (orange) for a time before displaying No Load Control (green).