4 March 2012 – 7pm
Release #7

Powerco Will Work through the Night to Repair Damaged Networks

Powerco is making steady progress restoring supply but the severely damaged network means 4,500 customers in South Taranaki and Whanganui are likely to have no power tonight.

The damage to the electricity network is major, with some sections needing to be completely rebuilt. Around 600 overhead lines were brought down and a large number of poles damaged in South Taranaki and Whanganui.

The pockets of areas most affected include Patea, Waitotara, Waverley, and remote areas between Whanganui and Raetihi.

Powerco General Manager Electricity Andrew McLeod said all available resources had been brought into the hardest hit areas of South Taranaki and Whanganui. “We’ve had 170 people on the job today, and will ramp that up to 200 tomorrow as crews arrive from other regions. Field staff will be working over night.”

He said field staff would be working overnight. The number of properties without power has dropped from 30,000 yesterday morning to around 4,500 this afternoon.

“We’ve managed to restore supply to around 84% our customers since yesterday morning and efforts will continue to get more back on tomorrow.”

The extent of the damage means it may take another three to four days to fully restore supply to some customers where access is difficult or damage is extensive. We are continuing to evaluate damage in remote and difficult to access areas.

“Our first priority is making the network safe. The high number of damaged lines mean there are still many remain down and they must be treated as live at all times.”

Mr McLeod said Powerco understood how difficult it was for people to be without power and acknowledged the inconvenience to customers, especially famers who are a focus of our restoration efforts.

People should ring Powerco on 0800 272727 if they see dangerous sections of the network. Customers wanting information about power cuts should phone their electricity retailer or go to www.powerco.co.nz/Outages-and-Faults/.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity and gas distribution utility with around 420,000 consumers connected to its networks. Powerco’s electricity networks are in Western Bay of Plenty, Thames, Coromandel, Eastern and Southern Waikato, Taranaki, Wanganui, Rangitikei, Manawatu and the Wairarapa. Its gas pipeline networks are in Taranaki, Hutt Valley, Porirua, Wellington, Horowhenua, Manawatu and Hawke’s Bay.

Information about Powerco is available on its website www.powerco.co.nz

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