Vector update, 1pm
The changing weather is continuing to cause issues across our network. Customers’ power has already been impacted by ex-Tropical Cyclone Tam, followed closely by the electrical storm and with warnings of another severe thunderstorm this afternoon, we want to be transparent that further outages remain a possibility.
Our crews continue to work around the clock to restore power as safely and quickly as possible. However, deteriorating conditions - particularly more lightning - may mean crews need to temporarily stand down to protect their safety.
Lightning has caused almost as much damage as ex- Tropical Cyclone Tam, requiring us to redeploy crews to repair high-voltage lines before moving on to low-voltage faults that directly impact homes and streets. We’re also working through a backlog of lightning-related damage, and in some cases, power may need to be temporarily switched off during these repairs.
Some of the remaining faults are in areas with challenging terrain, which can slow down progress. Areas with lots of trees can make finding a fault like finding a needle in a haystack. In some instances, we’ve had to deploy extra crews to patrol multiple kilometres of line on foot, brought in arborists to assist with vegetation, and deployed a drone to help pinpoint issues.
We also have dedicated teams working behind the scenes to keep customers informed with the latest updates. We understand how important timely information is, and as soon as new details become available, our teams are doing their best to reach affected people as quickly as possible.
We know how frustrating extended outages can be and thank our customers for their ongoing patience. We’d also like to thank our crews and those behind the scenes, who are giving up time with their families this Easter weekend to get power restored for our final affected customers.
For updates, or to report a fault, visit vector.co.nz/outages.
As always, remember to stay well away from downed or low-hanging lines, and call 111 if you see any.
ENDS