A power cut in Wanaka about 11am yesterday was caused by a
fault in protection equipment at the Wanaka substation, Delta
systems control manager Graeme Johnson, of Cromwell, said
yesterday.
The only areas not affected were Cardrona, Maungawera and
Lake Hawea.
Power was restored progressively throughout Wanaka, with some
people only having to wait five minutes while others had to
wait more than 30 minutes.
Mr Johnson said the fault was frustrating and an
investigation was under way.
Technicians would visit the Wanaka substation today to
download information from the computer so it could be
analysed.
The initial fault occurred in the Cardrona area but it was
not related to work being done to upgrade the lines there, Mr
Johnson said.
"The fault should have been cleared by our protection gear
that feeds the Cardrona area. But unfortunately the
protection equipment in the Wanaka substation didn't see it
that way and cut the power to everyone," Mr Johnson said.
Cardrona was not affected because its power is being supplied
by a generator.
It is the second time this week protection equipment has
failed the electricity network. Queenstown and the Wakatipu
Basin were left without power for about an hour on Tuesday
morning, following a similar type of fault.
Mr Johnson said the network could never be "100% guaranteed"
and he could not say a similar fault would not occur again.
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