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Lines company Vector is not sure how many Aucklanders lost hot water at the weekend after routine maintenance found problems with its system.
But one North Shore woman said it was the fourth time in two months she'd lost her hot water and she was starting to get steamed up about it.
Vector spokeswoman Philippa White said people in Birkenhead, Wairau, Glen Eden, Henderson and Rosebank were affected but only 20 calls had been logged.
"We do apologise, we accept that it can be an absolute inconvenience for people going to work, cooking, doing the dishes ... your life is hampered."
More people might have been left out in the cold but the company could help only if people rang either their power supplier or Vector, Ms White said.
Friday night was the last time Natasha Roy from Birkenhead was able to have a hot shower in her flat.
Yesterday morning, she drove to her mother's house nearby but was still an hour late to work as she had to wait to get into the house.
After four other incidents the cuts were starting to be a bit much.
"We were told [on Sunday] it was only going to be three hours until the water was on, and the day before it was the same.
"There's no public accountability, the power companies don't seem to have any customer service skills but if you don't pay your bill they're the first to send threatening letters."
Although the 31-year-old could cope, she worried about others such as the elderly or those without transport.
Ms White said Vector records had logged two previous calls from Miss Roy. The first was a technical fault in September and a possible general outage last month.
Ms White apologised and said unfortunately the incidents couldn't be helped.
