Powerco General Manager Network Management, Peter Hale, said there were 93 lightning strikes on the network overnight.

"The majority of those were in Taranaki and Manawatu and as a result of the lightning strikes, 21 high voltage faults required repairs," he said. "Some of these are still being attended to."

"In addition, there will be numerous power outages to individual consumers’ properties."

"This morning’s lightning, heavy rain and strong winds have resulted in outages to 6000 consumers, although we have been able to restore supply to more than 5000 of these within hours."

"The total number of consumers still without supply on Powerco’s networks is currently around 1500."

"In the last six days we have restored supply to approximately 50,000 consumers," Mr Hale said. Powerco line crews and network management centre staff have been putting in long hours in to restore supply to consumers.

"As of 8.00pm last night we had approximately 650 consumers still without supply from the previous storm, primarily in and around Wanganui (Fordell, Kai Iwi, Turakina Valley, Koeke) and Waitotara. These consumers are located in areas which have been particularly hard hit by floods, landslides and trees being blown over Powerco’s electricity mains. We expect to return supply to these areas by tonight," Mr Hale said.

"We are now into day seven of the repair and restoration effort due to those storms and, though power has been restored to the majority of affected consumers, we still face the arduous task of carrying out the last of the repairs, particularly around Wanganui," Mr Hale said.

"Powerco has really appreciated the support of the general community in helping us to obtain access in some very difficult and treacherous terrain still affected by flood waters. They have their own problems out there but have gone out of their way to assist us."

Mr Hale said the initial focus of the restoration effort had been to restore supply to the backbone of the network.

"We have the vast majority of supply to affected consumers back on, but there are still some remote or rural properties without power. We would ask those consumers who are still without power to contact their electricity retailer and advise of their situation. This will assist us in repairing the last of the storm damage to our networks and getting electricity supply to all affected consumers back on," he said.

Gas update

While repairs to Powerco’s electricity network are almost complete, gas consumers in parts of the Tararua region and Hawke’s Bay are being asked to reduce consumption in the wake of disruption to the gas supplies east of Ashhurst.

Floodwaters destroyed the Pohangina Road bridge near Ashhurst on Monday, leaving the Natural Gas Corporation’s (NGC) high pressure gas pipeline that was attached to it suspended in the Pohangina River.

NGC has isolated and depressurised that section of pipeline for safety reasons, and has called on commercial consumers to switch off to preserve any residual gas remaining in the pipeline for residential consumers and essential services like hospitals and schools.

Powerco’s gas network is fed by the NGC pipeline and areas affected include Ashhurst, Pahiatua, Mangatainoka, Dannevirke, Takapau, Mangaroa, Hastings and Napier.

"Options for repairs are highly dependant on the weather and so Powerco has taken steps to assist consumers in the area in the event of the natural gas supply remaining in the pipeline running out," Mr Hale said.

"Powerco has been able to secure the use of six CNG tankers, owned by Vector, which will all be on location in the Hawke’s Bay, Tararua region by the end of the day. One tanker is already on site in Ashhurst, supplying consumers in the area while NGC works on the repairs to its transmission pipeline. In the event that the pipeline can not be repaired before the remaining supply of gas runs out, these tankers will be used to maintain supply to consumers in the affected areas."

A CNG refueling station has been established in Palmerston North to refill the tankers if and when required.

"Powerco would like to thank all those who have assisted us in preparing this contingency including Vector and Shell. It is hoped that NGC will be able to affect repairs to its pipeline before the tankers are required, but with the weather forecast for more rain, that may not be possible and therefore we have had to plan for the least desirable outcome, in the interests of consumers connected to our natural gas networks," Mr Hale said.