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Vector Network News (09/07/12)

Vector has today launched an online calculator to help de-mystify electricity bills for customers. The calculator illustrates the split of a customer’s electricity bill into retailer charges, pass through costs and Vector's distribution charges.
 
Vector's prices are regulated by the Commerce Commission. The regulations limit our annual price increases to the CPI plus changes in pass through costs. Try the calculator online here.
 
Week Commencing 2 July 2012
 
NETWORKS SUMMARY
 
ELECTRICITY
  • Vector comfortably supplied the peak demand for electricity this week in Auckland.
  • The highest load for the week was 1691MW on Monday 2 July (just before 7.30pm) when the mean temperature during the day did not climb past 9.5 degrees. Our record peak last winter was 1852 MW when the Auckland region experienced snow in some parts of the city.
  • The short but intense storm of Tuesday 3 July caused a power outage on the Clevedon, Maraetai and Waiheke feeder. Vegetation struck a line on Maraetai Road and subsequently tripped the feeder protection. Ninety percent of network issues this week were again caused by third party incidents. A car hit a pillar in Sunnynook, another car hit a pillar in Mangere and a seagull, blinded by sun strike, hit the overhead lines in Glenfield. This was not the only bird issue on the network this week. A flock of birds hit lines in Stanmore Bay and brought the lines down - sun strike looks to be the cause of this incident, as it occurred in the late afternoon. Our faults crews responded to three property fires in Glenfield, Te Atatu and Papakura, isolating electricity to ensure the safety of fire personnel. Two contractors hit our underground cables in Henderson and Massey, while there were two calls regarding ‘lines down’. The Mt Eden incident involved Chorus lines while lines were pulled down by vegetation in Te Atatu.
GAS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION
  • Vector comfortably supplied the peak demand for gas this week in Auckland and other parts of the network in the North Island.
  • There were three gas incidents this week – one where a customer struck his own gas pipe while renovating, another caused by a Chorus contractor striking our gas distribution network. The third was where a ‘strong smell of gas’ was reported by a member of the public near the National Music Theatre in Tauranga. Vector’s crews responded and discovered that there was no smell of gas, but there was a burst water pipe under the footpath causing a ‘hissing sound’. The case was referred to Tauranga Council. Please take care around our gas network and call 0508 B4 U WORK (248 967) or 0800 B4 U DIG if outside Auckland.
 
METERING
  • AMS has just moved into the second month of deployment of smart meters for Contact Energy. Deployment is ramping up and the 500th meter was installed for Contact on the weekend. AMS is using a fully end to end automated closure process for the deployment, giving greater operational efficiencies to both Contact and AMS.
FIBRE
  • Vector Communications recently launched an online “Quick Quote” tool for quoting on net services to their customers.
PROJECTS UPDATE
  • Mills Lane, City: Vector is undertaking an electricity cable upgrade project to reinforce the power supply in the Mills Lane area of the CBD. This will ensure our customers continue to receive a secure power supply now and into the future. We are now beginning Stage Two of the project which involves cable installation and equipment swap-out, and will take place during July and September 2012. Streets affected include Mills Lane (off Albert Street) and the intersection of Mills Lane and Swanson Street.
  • Lynbrooke Avenue Undergrounding Project: Vector is undertaking an undergrounding project on Lynbrooke Avenue, Blockhouse Bay. The overhead power and telephone lines will be replaced with underground and new streetlights will be installed by Vector in coordination with Auckland Transport as part of this project. The project work will be carried out in sections throughout the area and should only directly affect the road frontage outside each property for a small amount of this time.

SHORTS
  • Vector’s Winter Safety Campaign in underway to ensure homes and businesses are aware of the work they can do to minimise power cuts during winter.
  • Vector owns over 17,737 kilometres of overhead and underground lines in the greater Auckland area, and 12,572 kilometres of gas pipe lines, with almost half supplying gas to Auckland.
  • Vector welcomes Kimbra to Auckland on Saturday 28 July. Vector, proud sponsor of the Arena.
 
ENDS