Media statement - for immediate release
4.00pm, Friday 13 September 2013

Progress to restore power continues

Electricity remains out to 6,000 Orion customers this afternoon. The areas without power are predominantly in the rural region west of Christchurch, while some smaller areas within Christchurch city are also affected.

"We are continuing to move in an east to west direction to restore supply to affected customers. We have managed today to get enough major high voltage lines, which feed into our substations, repaired so that all of our substations are now back online. However, while some of the lines downstream of these substations have been repaired over the last three days, many remain damaged. Also, as we work through our network repair we are continuing to uncover new damage," says Orion Chief Executive Rob Jamieson.

"The extent of damage we are facing is significant and this is not an easy repair. As a result some customers will unfortunately be without power for a few more days. We now hope that we can get power back onto all customers by Tuesday," continues Mr Jamieson.

A map of expected restoration times in different parts of our network will appear in tomorrow mornings Press newspaper.

Our priority remains to reconnect the areas with the most customers first, before moving onto faults which only affect a small number of customers. We are also working with Selwyn District Council to prioritise water supplies and 50% of these are now operational.

"Given damage to surrounding areas we haven't been able to call on the usual mutual support from neighbouring lines companies as they are busy fixing their own networks. However, contractors from Marlborough, Wellington and the West Coast are now giving us additional support and more contractors from other areas are arriving. This is helping and we are thankful for their support," says Mr Jamieson.

"We appreciate that for customers still without power it is difficult and frustrating, and we thank them for their patience. All available crews are working to restore power as quickly and safely as they can."

If you see a fallen power line, or a tree on a power line, please stay well clear and call us immediately on 0800 363 9898. Also, we appeal for people not to try and remove trees and branches from power lines. The lines may still be live. Please leave any works near electricity lines to our staff and contractors.

Unless there are significant developments overnight, our next update will be at 6.30am.

Attached is a map showing our network separated into four areas and our expected timeframes for restoring power to those still without power in each of those areas. This is a guide only.

ENDS

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