Powerco crews are continuing their work to reconnect customers impacted by strong wind and rain over the weekend.

Approximately 12,500 customers are currently without power across Powerco's networks. The majority are in Bay of Plenty with 5,748 and Taranaki with 2,709 customers.

There are also 2,263 customers without power in the Coromandel, Thames, Waihi and South Waikato areas combined, 717 in Whanganui, 418 in the Manawatū, and 548 in the Wairarapa.

Network Operations Manager Scott Horniblow thanks customers for their patience as crews work as quickly as they can to clear debris and restore power.

'Although weather conditions have settled today, there are still strong winds in some areas that make for challenging conditions for our field crews," says Scott.

"To help us identify and fix any faults, we have helicopters flying today to help patrol for damage, including multiple poles down and trees through lines.

'We'd like to thank customers once again for their patience as we work to reconnect them.”

Powerco is currently receiving a high number of calls from customers and would like to remind them to please only ring its emergency line in an emergency, such as power lines down.

Otherwise, customers can contact their electricity retailer - the company who sends their power bill - about power outages. Alternatively, they can find current outage information and estimated restoration times on Powerco's website at www.powerco.co.nz/outages

"Please note - some of the restoration times showing on the outage map are incorrect, we apologise for the inconvenience," says Scott. "This is because in some outages have multiple faults, and the complexity of the repairs means restoration times are longer than expected."