Another dark night for 2300 properties 5th March 2012

[Suezy]

Another dark night for 2300 properties
NZ Newswire
Updated March 5, 2012, 9:07 pm


About 2300 properties will remain without power overnight in Whanganui and south Taranaki.

Powerco has been working to restore power, after the weekend's storm knocked down about 600 powerlines on Saturday, cutting power to 30,000 properties.

Another 1000 customers were reconnected on Monday, but 2300 would likely be without power overnight, Powerco electricity general manager Andrew McLeod said.

"We have more than 200 staff involved in rebuilding our networks and Powerco crews will work on through the night with major construction projects resuming first thing in the morning."

The damage caused was the worst Powerco had experienced and the huge amount of rebuilding would take time in rural, hard to access areas, Mr McLeod said.

Some customers may have to wait another two or three days to have their power restored.

Power has been restored to pumps supplying water to Whanganui, but residents need to reduced their water use this week so reservoirs can regain their levels, Whanganui Mayor Annette Main says.

A ban on hoses and sprinklers would be reviewed mid-week, she said.

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500 still without power in Taranaki 9th March 2012
Some residents of south Taranaki face a second week without power as the local power company works on to repair its battered network.

Powerco says lines crews are working through the Taranaki Anniversary Weekend to try to restore supply to about 500 customers who have been without power since a storm brought down 600 power lines and destroyed transformers last Saturday.

The customers are in Whanganui, Patea, Waverley and Waitotara Valley where damage to the network is most severe. Most are in rural areas.

The company says a small number of customers will not have supply restored until next week.

Power was cut to 30,000 properties when the storm swept through quickly on Saturday.

Powerco network operations manager Phil Marsh says people should turn their mains switch off if they leave their property while waiting for supply to be restored.

"We're trying to get around to everyone to let them know what the situation is with their power, and to make sure they're holding up OK," he said.

Much of Patea, which has a population of about 1000, was badly damaged, with roofs blown off homes and the main street scattered with sheets of iron and trees, when the storm hit.