Orion earthquake response Latest update: 4.00pm, Monday 20 June 2011

Electricity network Orion has found 70 damaged 11,000 volt (11kV) underground cables so far in Christchurch as a result of the two large aftershocks last Monday, and expects to take two months to complete these cable repairs. Most of the faults are in the eastern suburbs around the Avon River and in the Sumner area near the epicentre of both aftershocks.

By way of comparison, more than 200 11kV cables were damaged after the February 22 earthquake, many with multiple faults. Four larger 66kV cables supplying Brighton and Dallington were also seriously damaged.

Orion continued its cable fault location and repair work over this past weekend, and continues to respond to the few remaining requests for power restoration after Monday's events cut power to about 56,000 customers.

The June 13 aftershocks have not had a significant impact on the major earthquake recovery work already well underway following the February quake. Orion is still on target to complete this work - including the new substation in Keyes Road, New Brighton - by the end of July.

Orion General Manager Commercial Rob Jamieson says that the network is generally holding up well due to good engineering and extensive seismic strengthening work undertaken over the past two decades.

"We also have a very interconnected network, which means power can be rerouted easily from multiple sources when necessary. This gives us options to restore power from different directions when an underground cable is damaged," Mr Jamieson says.

Monday's aftershocks also caused more flooding and damage at Orion's substation in Pages Road, which sunk in places after the February 22 earthquake. "We definitely made the right decision in February to replace this substation with the new one being built on more secure land in Keyes Road," Mr Jamieson adds.

Three diesel generators continue to supply power to less than 1,000 homes in Avonside and Bexley until the network in those areas can be repaired.

Important messages for residents:

. The electricity network in the eastern suburbs is fragile - please stay prepared for further power cuts. Keep a torch and battery radio handy and charge your mobile phone often.
. We are now responding to individual requests for power reconnection. If you are outside the CBD's four avenues, and your power is off, please call Orion on 03 363 9898 so we can identify and repair any remaining faults caused by the aftershocks.
. If a generator is supplying power to your house and your hot water cylinder is not heating, please contact your electricity retailer.
. Please heat your homes. We are confident our network will cope with the heating load. At the same time, if you're in the eastern suburbs please use electricity wisely and turn off unnecessary appliances such as heated towel rails.
. If your power is not yet on, turn the mains switch off and check that nothing has fallen on to stoves and heaters, as this will lessen the risk of fire when power comes back on. Stay away from any exposed electrical wires.

ENDS

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