Substation issue in Nth Canterbury prompts urgent call to reduce power use

Due to an urgent Transpower issue at the Waipara substation, MainPower customers in the Hurunui and Kaikoura districts are being asked to reduce power usage by at least 30% on Friday.

The areas affected include Culverden, Hawarden, Kaikoura, Cheviot, Greta Valley and Waipara.

Consumers were asked by Transpower to reduce power from 8.30am on Friday to 3pm.

They were being encouraged to turn off lights, air conditioning and heat pumps, and any appliances on standby.

Controllable irrigation and hot water will be turned off throughout the period.

In a Facebook Post and on the MainPower website, Transpower says if the necessary reduction isn’t met it may have to turn power off to safely complete repairs.

‘‘So please prepare for power outages.

‘‘Power may be returned at any time so please treat all lines as live at all times.’’