Hot water restrictions fail to eventuate

Vector says hot-water shortages could continue into today. Photo / Greg Bowker

Aucklanders had no disruption to hot water this morning after lines company Vector warned of possible hot water cuts.

The company had said that hot water could be turned off today as the company deals with the fall-out from last night's power cut.

Vector spokeswoman Philippa White said by 11pm last night it was clear that there would be no need for hot water restrictions.

She said if anyone was still without hot water than they should get in touch with Vector on 0800 764 764.

At the peak of the power cut, more than 50,000 homes in the city were without power and traffic ground to a halt, rail services were delayed and some businesses were forced to close.

By late afternoon, motorists trying to get on to the motorways from Ponsonby backed up right down College Hill, and police manned major intersections as lights failed.

Signals failed at Newmarket rail station about 4pm. About 1000 travellers on the western line were initially faced with 20 minute delays, and replacement buses were brought into service.

The Newmarket Business Association's chief executive, Cameron Brewer, said half the suburb's businesses had been affected. "Power cuts seem to have become a regular event in Auckland and it's fast becoming beyond a joke," he said.

Power was restored to most areas of Auckland about 8pm.

Less than a year ago, a transformer failure cut power to 70,000 Auckland customers.

The fire yesterday caused a fault on two of the transmission lines that feed the region. With the Otahuhu power station out of action for maintenance yesterday, Transpower declared a grid emergency.

The outage also affected Northland. In Whangarei, rolling cuts were made to conserve energy.

- With NZHERALD STAFF