2.30pm, 16 March 2015 – Update on electricity outages in Gisborne, East Coast, Wairoa

Power has been restored to 200 customers on the Mahia Peninsula and at many other isolated outages across the Gisborne/East Coast region.

Eastland Network’s general manager Brent Stewart said faultmen had been kept busy responding to call-outs as Clycone Pam hit the coast. “We see this kind of impact on the networks about three or four times each year,” he said.

Eastland Network is actually three networks – Gisborne, Tuai and Wairoa – and they each have separate connections to Transpower’s transmission grid. Mr Stewart said the region’s electricity network covered a challenging and expansive area spanning about 12,000 square kilometers.

As faultmen repaired individual faults throughout the morning, other faults had been called into Eastland Network’s call centre.

“So we still have isolated pockets of customers in rural and coastal areas without power, but we have identified all faults and will get there to make repairs as soon as possible.”

Mr Stewart estimated approximately 250 homes were without power at 2pm.

“They are all isolated individual faults, mainly caused by falling trees. This afternoon we’ve identified faults at Waipiro Bay, Lottin Point and Awatere south of Te Araroa. At Puketiti Road near Te Puia, trees have brought the lines down and are also blocking the road. Our faultman attended and isolated the lines and we have notified contractors so they can work on clearing trees. Once that’s done the power can be reinstated.”

Mr Stewart paid tribute to line mechanics across the region and again thanked customers for their patience.

“Our own faultmen, as well as many contractors, are out there in this weather working to get things fixed as quickly as possible. They appreciate the patience of customers who are waiting for the power to come back on.”

Treat all power lines as live at all times.

Report all faults to Eastland Network’s call centre 0800 206 207

ENDS

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