The initiative is backed by Rabobank, the Rural Support Trust, the Ministry of Primary Industries, Clutha District Council and other rural professionals.
About 50 people set off on Tuesday morning to check in on those in hard-hit areas.
The winds cut supply to many thousands on October 23 and restoration efforts are continuing. In an update this afternoon PowerNet advised that 320 customers remained without power across Otago and Southland, down from about 680 yesterday.
PowerNet Chief Executive Paul Blue said while it had been encouraging to see numbers drop so significantly in the past couple of days, the company hadn’t forgotten it had been a very long wait for many customers.
“Your patience and your kindness to our crews has been nothing short of outstanding,” Blue said.
He said they were now in the "tail" of the response, but it could be "challenging to pinpoint where the last of our faults are, or the causes of those faults".
“Rest assured we are still pushing hard to get to each of you, to understand what’s required, and to get your power restored safely,” Mr Blue said.
The Clutha District Council earlier warned the electricity network was still fragile after a vegetation fire temporarily cut power across Balclutha on Monday, saying people should not light fires or take any risks with vulnerable infrastructure.
Permits are now needed to light any outdoor fires.
"Many reservoirs in the district remain low which means there may not be water available if a controlled fire gets out of hand, or fire crews may need to drain the already low resources," the council said.
All wastewater sites were operational and all drinking water sites were running as usual, apart from the Tapanui reservoir which remained critically low at 47 percent.
Water tanks are being deployed at Blue Mountain College and Lawrence Area School.
Leaks are being detected across multiple water schemes, including the North Bruce Rural Water Scheme where dense and fallen trees need to be cleared before repairs can be made.
Only Balclutha, Milton (Waihola) and Kaitangata (Wangaloa) do not have a boil water notice in place, but the council said anyone receiving discoloured water should not drink it.
Any farming families who need support can contact their local Rural Support Trust online or call 0800 787 254.
- additional reporting Allied Media
