Efforts continue to restore power supply

Media statement - for immediate release
4.00pm, Thursday 19 Sept 2013 - next update 4.00pm tomorrow

Efforts continue to restore power supply

The number of Orion customers without power, following last week's destructive wind storm, will fall to 350 tonight. The customers without power are dispersed around the rural region. The storm originally took out power to 28,000 Orion customers.

"Reducing the number of customers without power is a slow process now. We are past those repairs that take up say most of a crew's day and which bring back supply to hundreds of customers at a time. Most of our repairs now are only bringing back a handful, or less, of customers each time," says Orion Chief Executive Rob Jamieson.

"We have all of our available resources working on this and many other networks and contractors throughout New Zealand have also sent their crews in to help us. It is a very difficult and frustrating time for those without power and I thank people for their ongoing patience. I can assure them that we are working as hard as we can to get electricity supply back to them following the most destructive storm to hit our region in 40 years," continues Mr Jamieson.

We ask any residents using generators to get them installed by registered electricians to ensure the safety of the linesmen repairing the network.

If you see a fallen power line, or a tree on a power line, please stay well clear and call us on 0800 363 9898.

Our next update will be at 4.00pm tomorrow.

ENDS

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