MainPower crews are hitting the ground running today to restore power to the 3,000 customers who are still without power following the weather events of the last two days.
Acting Chief Executive Damien Whiffen says the Emergency Operations Centre stood up by the company ahead of the weather event is directing staff and resources to enact repairs as quickly as possible.
“We’ve got three helicopters in the air scoping faults and assessing damage. We have a large and often remote network and there has been widespread damage, but we have multiple crews on the road and already in action.
“We will be focussing on the Hanmer Springs and Culverden / Waiau areas first thing, to restore services as quickly as we can for these bustling holiday spots ahead of the long weekend. We had hoped to have the business district of Hanmer Springs restored last night but our crews were called away to clear roads to assist in the safe evacuation of 150 children from the Hanmer Springs Forest Camp. Hanmer Springs township is a priority for us today.”
Whiffen says the business is hoping to have most of the main trunk line restored today which will provide a safe and secure feed for further livening.
“We do need to remind people to treat all power lines as live at all times. Today will be a day of restoration and repair, and power will come back on without notice. Please don’t drive under fallen lines – stay at least 20 metres away from any downed lines and you can call our 0800 number to report any incidents.
“We’ve got four full gangs are out doing repairs – replacing poles, repairing transformers, making areas safe – with multiple crews scoping. We have offers of assistance from our neighbouring EDBs which we’ll be taking up tomorrow and we have support from our partners through today. We are still looking at reduced resourcing due to the widespread destruction around the South Island yesterday, but we’ll be working hard to get repairs done as soon as we can.”
Whiffen says crews will be working throughout the weekend, and the weather looks promising to expedite repairs.
