10 March 2012 – 2pm
Release #17

Power Restoration Work Continues Over Long Weekend

Powerco continues to make steady progress restoring power to its severely damaged electricity network in South Taranaki and Wanganui.

Key parts of the network have been rebuilt at sites across the two regions after extreme winds last weekend. There are still around 350 customers without power and a huge effort is underway into getting them back on supply.

The majority are in remote rural areas of Wanganui, Patea, Waverley and the Waitotara Valley where damage to the network is most severe. A small number of customers in these areas will not have supply restored until later in the week.

Powerco Network Operations Manager Phil Marsh said the damage to the electricity network was major.

“Spans of lines across large valleys and rivers have been brought down by the storm,” Mr Marsh said. “Overgrown trees have fallen in their path and have to be cleared before sections of the network can be rebuilt.”

He said crews had been removing fallen lines and making them safe, but people should stay well away from any yet to be attended to, and treat the lines as live. Any lines that are down should be reported to Powerco on 0800 272 727.

Mr Marsh said that when “backbone” power lines had been repaired, some individual properties may only have partial power. Customers who do not have any power, or supply to only parts of their property should contact their electricity retailers. This is especially important if neighbours have their power back on.

People without power should turn their mains switch off if they leave their property while waiting for supply to be restored.

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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