Powerco explains Waiouru problems

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 437, 19 May 1992, Page 3

Powerco explains Waiouru problems

Rod Stein, the general manager of Midwestern Powerco, provided the Bulletin with the following press release in response to questions about the recent 20-hour loss of power in Waiouru. "Powerco sincerely

regrets the inconvenience suffered by its customers in Waiouru during the weekend of 9 and 10 May. There were two separate incidents that caused the area to be without power for a pe-

riod of 20 hours. On Saturday a pole in the line supplying Waiouru with electricity, was broken in a road accident that occurred around 2.30pm. The replacement of this pole took seven hours due to delays at the start with

communication with Electricorp. Power was restored to Waiouru at 10.30 pm On Sunday morning , just after 1 am , we were advised by Electricorp that we had again lost supply to Waiouru. We were unable to

communicate with Waiouru by phone and finally got a message from the Police in Waiouru, through the Police in Wanganui, that the road was closed and that we would be unable to get through. We carried out all the necessary switching for isolation of the fault at the Electricorp substation at Mataroa in preparation for restoring power in the morning , but were turned back by Transit New Zealand on the road between Taihape and Waiouru. At first light, one of our four wheel drive trucks was able to get through by following a larger vehicle. The problem was broken wires on the line caused by a tree that had fallen over the line due to the weight of snow on it. Once the tree had been

removed, and the lines repaired, electricity was restored to Waiouru at 1 pm. Our staff did all they could in atrocious weather conditions to restore the supply of electricity as soon as possible. It was unfortunate that two separate incidents caused such a long period without power. An investigation of the incident on Saturday

has highlighted problems that delayed restoration of power by probably two hours. The communication problems with Electricorp have been rectified and will not happen again. Even though the wrong pole was used, our staff completed a job which would normally take around four hours in ideal conditions, in five hours in conditions that were far from ideal."