Significant winds yesterday and fires in the Kaikōura region have impacted the MainPower network, with crews currently out fixing faults and restoring power.
Acting Chief Executive Damien Whiffen says the company has stood up its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to ensure resources and supplies are directed to the areas that need them most.
“We’re keenly aware that some of our customers were without power last night, and looking at the forecast for Thursday which includes significant wind across the network, we are encouraging our customers to enact their No Power Plans and prepare to be without power for some days if the weather delivers as promised.
“Our crews are currently out scoping and fixing faults, but the fires in Kaikōura and the remote nature of much of our network means this will take time. We are stocking up and preparing for a significant event tomorrow.”
MainPower has over 46,000 customers on the network in the Waimakariri, Hurunui and Kaikōura regions. In 2023 a similar weather pattern meant around half the network was without power for extended periods, so the company is preparing for the worst.
“Of course we hope we’re overcooking this and it won’t be as bad as the forecasts would have us believe, but we’re making sure we have everything we need on hand – from poles to people – to get to those repairs as soon as it’s safe to do so,” Whiffen says.
“We’re particularly mindful of our customers and crews in Kaikōura, many of whom are volunteer firefighters and are working around the clock to keep their community safe.”
There are currently around 600 customers without power in the Kaikōura, Lees Valley, Waikari, Culverden and Waiau areas. The company hopes to restore power to as many of these areas today before the wind picks up again tomorrow.
Some pictures of current damage below. If you see damage to electricity equipment, please TREAT AS LIVE keep your distance and call MainPower immediately on 0800 30 90 80 to report it.
