Photo by Tyler Christmas.
A fallen power pole near the corner of Taieri Rd and
Berwick St, in Dunedin, cut power to Halfway Bush and Wakari
residents early yesterday.
The wooden pole is believed to have rotted through, causing
it to fall on to private property about 2am, damaging a
car.
Delta chief executive Grady Cameron said the incident was
regretted and Delta had been in contact with the property
owner about damage caused, and the company's insurers in
regard to compensation.
''We are currently investigating the sequence of events that
led to the pole's failure. What is clear is that the pole had
internal rot that was not easily detectable.''
Mr Cameron said the pole had been replaced with a new
hardwood pole.
Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
The condition of all poles on the Aurora Energy network
were checked regularly as part of scheduled maintenance and the
pole in question was last checked in 2011.
''However, it is not always possible to accurately assess the
internal condition of wooden poles.
''We have an extensive and ongoing pole replacement programme
on the Aurora Energy networks in Dunedin and Central Otago,''
he said.
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