Auckland Mayors Demand Power Crisis Action

The Auckland region’s mayors are calling on the Government to take steps to ensure the power supply is maintained, following the blackout last Monday which left half the region in darkness.

Electricity supply planning was discussed at today’s meeting of the Mayoral Forum. The mayors agreed to request the Government to adopt a leadership role.

In one of a number of resolutions, they requested that the Government consider bringing Transpower and the Electricity Commission together as a new Government department, so that direct control can be achieved.

Manukau Mayor Sir Barry Curtis says, “We have no faith that Transpower can guarantee supply, and we believe its planning decisions have been poor. We were all shocked at the revelation that the failure of one simple shackle caused the blackout. The entire system has been hanging by a thread and that is not acceptable. Our regional power supply should never have become so vulnerable.

“Transpower has also provided poorly-thought out proposals for building a new transmission route from the Waikato to Auckland, and the blackout is one failure too many. The Government needs to take control to ensure a guaranteed supply of electricity and to ensure accountability in this vital area.”

The Mayoral Forum is also seeking access to the Government’s report into the causes of the blackout.

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