4 March 2012 – 12.15pm

Power Restored to 24,500 Customers Since Yesterday

Powerco is making good progress on restoring supply to customers who lost power from the extreme winds yesterday.

The number of properties without power has dropped from 30,000 yesterday morning to around 5,500 this afternoon.

Powerco General Manager Electricity Andrew McLeod said all available resources had been brought into the hardest hit areas of South Taranaki and Whanganui.

He said field staff had been working hard to get power back as quickly and safely as possible.

“We’ve managed to restore supply power to 82% of our customers and now hope to have up to 90% back on by the end of the day.”

Inspections completed yesterday have confirmed the damage to the electricity network is severe, 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 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 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

© Scoop Media