Power cut to parts of Auckland for second day

Parts of Auckland endured further power cuts yesterday, just a day after a substation failure caused chaos.

Around 90 households on Mahoe Ave in Remuera lost power last night after a transformer caught fire.

Vector spokeswoman Philippa White said the cause of the fire was not known but it was not related to Monday's blackout, which affected 700,000 people across Auckland.

The fire was put out and a generator brought in to help restore power.

Gary Key, who lives on Rangitoto Ave in Remuera, said he lost power from about 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Power also cut to parts of Herne Bay late last night.

Earlier yesterday power was knocked out by high winds shortly after 7am, affecting at least 400 households and businesses in Mt Eden and Three Kings. It was restored about noon.

Ms White said a further 2000 customers on Vector's northern grid, which extends from Avondale to Wellsford and Kawakawa Bay, were also powerless, some overnight. Many residents using gas water heating were also without hot water overnight on Monday and for some of yesterday.

A Genesis Energy spokesman said the fault was an electrical one caused by bad weather.

Ms White said there were no guarantees against future power cuts and recommended people take precautions.

"Weather conditions and high winds will affect supply from time to time."

But Titirangi man Ian Baugh said Aucklanders had little to moan about.

"In Titirangi we've had power cuts of at least two hours - sometimes four - once a week and every week since April."