Power Board Apologizes

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 264, 22 November 1988, Page 1

Power Board Apologizes

The King Country Electric Power Board has extended an apology to their customers for the delay in restoring the power after the Sunday shut-down. The board was asked by Electricorp Marketing for a shut-down on Sunday November 20 to enable. them to carry out service maintenance at the Ohakune substation on a transformer bank. John Cartwright of Electricorp Marketing told the BuLletin that the shutdown was to change a transformer unit, a "tape changer" which keeps the voltage at a constant level. He said the work was done in time and the tape changer was tested prior to being put back, then tested again in position. When the system was livened at 4.30pm the equipment jammed, he said. The alternatives were to continue the shutdown until the work was completed or have another shutdown next Sunday. The crew decided to continue the shutdown. He said without all the tests on Sunday the transformer could have blown up which could have blacked out the area for at least five hours. The King Country Electric Power Board took advantage of the shut down to carry out nonurgent maintenance of their equipment. Their work was completed by 4.20pm. The supply was finally restored at about 6.50pm.