Interruption To Power Supply

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Interruption To Power Supply

Power supply to approximately 7000 consumers in the Coromandel, Thames Valley and Tauranga was interrupted today as a result of extreme weather.

Powerco Network Operations Manager Ross Dixon said network crews had restored supply to around half of the affected customers by midday today, and hoped to restore power to the bulk of the remaining customers by this evening.

The outages occurred as gale force winds and heavy rain hit the regions, causing conductors to clash and trees to fall, and damage to our overhead lines.

“Powerco has been on standby since early yesterday when we received warning that severe weather was expected to hit our networks. We have mobilised extra resources to deal with damage sustained during the storm, and will continue working to repair damage and restore power to our customers as soon as possible,” Mr Dixon said.

Powerco is New Zealand’s second largest electricity and second largest gas distribution utility with around 400,000 consumers connected to its networks. Powerco’s electricity networks are in Tauranga, 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 the Hawke’s Bay.

ENDS

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