KEY POINTS:
About 1200 Whangarei homes lost power early yesterday morning when a car crashed into a power pole on Kamo Rd.
Northpower network services manager Calvin Whaley said the car struck a pole near the intersection with Western Hills D about 1am.
Mr Whaley said the crash had a "domino effect" knocking down a second pole and damaging equipment on several other poles.
He estimated the cost of the damage and repairs could be up to $10,000.
Police, who said the car was allegedly stolen, have charged a man in relation to the incident.
Just as staff had restored power to affected properties another car struck a pole on Maunu Rd about 7am. About 40 homes were affected in that incident.
Mr Whaley said Northpower would try to recover the cost of repairing the power poles from those responsible.
"We do try reasonably hard to recover the damage cost from the people involved, because it's not really fair that the customer has to subsidise the cost," he said.
- Northern Advocate
