Formal complaint laid over August power cuts

Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski.

The Electricity Authority has confirmed Transpower is responsible for unnecessary power cuts to 34,000 consumers on one of the coldest nights of the year.

The authority's final report on the August 9 power cuts confirms Transpower's coordination and communication failures for the unnecessary outages.

At the time, power cuts hit without warning, catching thousands off guard with no time to fill their hot water bottles or find torches.

Electricity Authority chief executive James Stevenson-Wallace says the power system operator has made significant improvements since last year's event, and a monitoring programme has been put in place to ensure all the recommendations are followed.

"As contract managers for the system operator, we've learnt valuable lessons from these events and as recommended in the Ministerial Investigation, we will be holding Transpower more firmly to the rules and contracts in its performance as system operator," says Stevenson-Wallace.

In addition, an industry-wide simulation exercise will take place later next month.

"The system operator will be actioning our recommendation to lead its first industry-wide simulation exercise on May 26 - based on managing a hypothetical grid emergency where supply is forecast to fall below demand.

"This is a critical preparedness exercise to put the system operator's changes to the test and to ensure its communications and processes are effective and will minimise impacts on customers in any future events."

In addition, the authority says it has made a formal complaint to the Rulings Panel regarding the alleged breaches by Transpower.

If the Rulings Panel upholds the complaint, it can impose penalties, costs or compensation and recommend amendments to the code.

An undesirable trading situation investigation related to the events of August 9 is still underway and open for consultation until May 4.

-RNZ.

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1 comment

Heads need to roll

Posted on 27-04-2022 18:10 | By TheCameltoeKid

Those involved in this decision making process must be sacked and that includes Meagan Woods. Her pathetic excuses are an embarrassment.


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