An Aurora spokeswoman said line crews were working ‘‘as quickly as safely possible’’ to locate the faults and restore power to affected suburbs in Dunedin.
As at 9pm tonight, parts of North East Valley, Mornington, Kenmure, Fairfield, St Clair Heights, Caversham, Waverley, Maryhill, South Dunedin, Bradford, Woodside, were without power, she said.
‘‘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.’’
Severe winds are continuing, and she said residents should be prepared for the possibility of electricity-related hazards and power outages.
‘‘We urge people to keep safe around electricity and securely fix trampolines, outdoor furniture and other heavy items to the ground.
‘‘In particular, always keep well clear of fallen power lines or damaged electrical equipment and treat them as live at all times.’’
She also advised residents to watch out for falling tree branches because they could cause damage to power lines; switch appliances off at the wall to avoid possible damage to electrical appliances when power is restored; 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 relied on electricity should ensure they are prepared for power disruptions, she said.
‘‘If there is an immediate health threat, contact your health provider or call 111.’’
● To report downed power lines, or trees in power lines, please contact Aurora Energy on 0800 22 00 05.
