Update 3 – Wind Related Power Outages in Dunedin: 7 January 2020, 9:00am

Our crews are on their way to affected suburbs this morning to begin restoring power.

At the height of the event last night 2,500 customers were without power, with crews working to restore power to as many customers as safely possible.

At this time, we anticipate power should be restored to affected customers around lunchtime.

We urge people to keep safe around electricity and securely fix trampolines, outdoor furniture and other heavy items to the ground.

We understand the inconvenience that service interruptions cause, and we will be working hard to restore power to remaining customers as soon as possible. Our crews are assessing damage and responding where it is safe and possible to make repairs. The safety of the public and line crews is always of primary importance.

The status at 9:00am is:

• Fairfield
• Allanton
• Henley

Keeping safe

Severe winds continue, and people should be prepared for the possibility of electricity-related hazards and power outages, in particular:

• Always keep well clear of fallen power lines or damaged electrical equipment and treat them as live at all times.
• Watch out for falling tree branches as these can cause damage to power lines.
• Switch appliances off at the wall to avoid possible damage to electrical appliances when power is restored.
• Be prepared for power outages. Make sure you have adequate food supplies, warm clothing and bedding, torch and spare batteries, battery radio and an alternative source of heating and cooking.

People using medical equipment that relies on electricity should ensure they are prepared for power disruptions and if there is an immediate health threat, contact their health provider or call 111.

Please keep clear of fallen power lines or damaged electrical equipment and treat them as live at all times.

To report downed power lines, or trees in power lines, please contact Aurora Energy on 0800 22 00 05.

ENDS