Field staff repair majority of damage after severe storm
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
Powerco contractors have battled the elements to restore supply to more than 12,000 customers after a severe storm lashed the North Island yesterday morning.
A Tenix contractor inspects a pole damaged by a fallen tree branch in Coastal Taranaki.(More pictures below)
Powerco contractors have battled the elements to restore supply to more than 12,000 customers after a severe storm lashed the North Island yesterday morning.
Powerco Network Operations Manager Phil Marsh said crews put in a huge effort today and had restored supply to all but around 300 customers. Around 240 properties without supply were in Taranaki with a further 40 in Manawatu and the remaining 20 properties scattered in isolated locations around the North Island.
"The crews from Tenix and Asplundh have done a fantastic job in trying conditions clearing trees from lines while still being battered by gale force winds.”
Mr Marsh said Powerco expected to
complete repairs tomorrow barring any further severe weather
Many of today’s power cuts could have been avoided if tree owners had kept their trees trimmed well clear of Powerco’s networks.
“Powerco spends millions each year clearing trees from overhead lines. However tree owners need to take responsibility for their trees as they are causing unnecessary power cuts by allowing their trees to grow into or close to overhead lines.”
Detailed information about current faults on the network can be found at:
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.
A Tenix lineman struggles to keep his hardhat on as gale force winds buffet coastal Taranaki
Power cuts caused by scenes like this could easily be avoided if tree owners had their trees trimmed
clear of overhead lines by suitably trained and authorized arbourists
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