Raglan's power, up close
Storms hit Raglan first
In a storm WEL reported as 27 unplanned outages affecting about 17,500 customers, Raglan was the worst hit, mostly from fallen trees bringing down lines. WEL's outage and fault line is 0800 800 935, 24/7.
WEL is rebuilding the supply
After Cyclones Gabrielle and Dovi, WEL is laying an underground cable between Waitetuna Valley Road and the Te Uku substation, and has rebuilt Te Uku with indoor switchgear. It planned the Raglan reliability works to be running before winter 2026.
Lots of baches
At the 2018 census Raglan had 471 unoccupied private dwellings against 1,275 occupied ones. By 2023 it had 3,717 people in 1,416 dwellings. Mains electricity only arrived in 1935.
Salt in the air
BRANZ says homes within 500 m of the coast or a harbour are in exposure zone D, with a high risk of wind-blown sea-spray salt. Salt speeds up corrosion on outdoor lights, power points, meter boxes and heat pump connections.
New streets in Raglan West
A bridge replaced the tidal causeway to Raglan West in 2019, and work began on 259 residential lots. Over 550 houses are being built in stages on 117 ha.
What Raglan homes usually need
Checks after a storm. If a tree took your line down or water got into the roof, have the affected circuits tested before you rely on them. If your line is a private service line, WEL says repairs are the owner's job, using qualified people.
Outdoor fittings that last. Weatherproof outdoor lights and power points rated for the coast, and a look at the meter board for rust or crumbling seals.
Looking after an empty bach. Working smoke alarms are a must; in a rental they're the law. An RCD that trips while you're away can leave the fridge off for weeks, so some owners put the fridge on its own circuit.
New builds in Raglan West. EV chargers and solar. WEL treats solar up to 10 kW single phase as a small connection, and the inverter must meet AS/NZS 4777.2:2020.
If our bach were in Raglan
We'd have the outdoor fittings and meter board checked for corrosion once a year, because salt works quietly. We'd fit long-life smoke alarms so there are no batteries to forget, and we'd ask a neighbour to text us after any big storm.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.