Picture this - a frosty winter's evening, relaxing in front of the heater, the electric blanket is warming up the bed and a roast is simmering away in the oven.
Then the lights go out, the house chills and the roast is far from ready.
What happens next? A quick excursion to the barbecue could finish the roast, which could be shared by candlelight followed by a game of Scrabble afterwards.
Others face a long night in the dark.
When the electricity goes off in winter it can cause more discomfort than a power cut on a summer evening.
"When that happens [in summer] people are more likely to head outside and cook dinner on the barbecue and treat it like a camping experience," Queenstown Lakes District Council emergency management officer Brenden Winder said.
"In winter there are more issues around heating and cooking food."
With lake levels low there was an increased chance of power cuts, although Mr Winder said the only thing most people would notice was a bit less hot water in the mornings.
Having a few supplies in the house - such as candles, a torch and spare batteries, a transistor or other radio able to be run off batteries, some tins of spaghetti and other canned food for three days or more and a good book, was his advice.
Power cuts would not be considered a community emergency unless they went on for several days, but people should be prepared, Mr Winder said.
If they were prepared for a power cut, then they would also be prepared to deal with any emergency.
His first advice was to do two simple things: read the back page of the regional phone book to find out what to do to "get ready and get through" and, should a power cut or disaster strike, listen to a large national station on the radio.
"A power cut is not an emergency but it could turn into an emergency with several other factors," Mr Winder said.
People who relied on electricity for things like respirators should have plans already in place in the event of an emergency.
But if a problem did arise, 111 was still the number to call.
"If people don't have a radio, they usually have a car," he said. "Car radios are just as good."
Other things to think about were getting in touch with neighbours and checking if they were all right.
"You don't need to have big plans - just knowing that if something happens you will pop next door and check up on someone can be enough," he said.
In a small "semi-rural community in the South Island", he expected most people would be hardy and adaptable enough to handle any potential power cuts.
Even so, for the big disasters a small amount of preparation could mean the difference between having able to cope or struggling with basic survival.
"The people who prepare well will recover far quicker, get back to work sooner and lose less money in a disaster," Mr Winder said.
"They will react far better psychologically, emotionally and the experience won't be as bad for them."
Things to keep handy
• A regional telephone book.
• Three litres of water per person per day.
• Canned non-perishable food.
• A torch and radio with batteries.
• Toilet paper, plastic bags and a bucket.
• A barbecue or other means of cooking.
• Face and dust masks.
