Some Christchurch residents who don't have power are abusing staff at the lines company's call centre.
Orion says staff have received a number of abusive phone calls from inpatient customers.
Chief executive Roger Sutton says people need to bear in mind that its staff are also Christchurch residents and many are living without water and sewerage.
He says some are also living without power.
About 1400 customers remain without power outside the central city, while 4500 properties within the city have no electricity.
