Quake damage to power network will take months to fix

Damage to Christchurch's electricity network caused by last Monday's aftershocks will take two months to fix. File photo / NZ Herald

Damage to Christchurch's electricity network caused by last Monday's two large aftershocks is expected to take two months to fix, says lines company Orion.

Orion has found 70 11,000 volt (11kV) underground cables damaged by Monday's 5.7 and 6.3 magnitude aftershocks and expects it to take two months to repair them. By comparison more than 200 11kV cables and four larger 66kV were damaged in February 22's 6.3 aftershock.

Orion commercial general manager Rob Jamieson said the network was generally holding up well following last week's aftershocks in large part due to good engineering.

"We also have a very interconnected network, which means power can be rerouted easily from multiple sources when necessary," Mr Jamieson said.

"This gives us options to restore power from different directions when an underground cable is damaged," he said.

Orion spent the weekend responding to the few remaining requests for power restoration following last week's quake and locating and repairing damaged cables.

About 56,000 customers lost power following last Monday's quakes.

Customers in the eastern suburbs were warned supply to these areas was still fragile and more power cuts were still possible.

People who still did not have power and lived outside the central business district's four avenues were asked to contact Orion to get there power reconnected.

Three diesel generators continue to supply power to less than 1000 homes in Avonside and Bexley until the network in those areas can be repaired.

- NZPA