Thousands still without power as new cold blast approaches

Thousands of people are still without an electricity supply as a fresh southerly nears the South Island.

Southland and Otago are likely to be worst hit this time, and some heavy snow showers are possible, MetService said.

Though the numbers of properties without power dropped sharply today, between 1000 and 1500 properties were still without electricity in South Canterbury.

Electricity lines companies said they were making progress five days after heavy snow hit the region.

Alpine Energy chief executive Greg Skelton today said some of the more remote properties were continuing to face a wait of up to two weeks before full power is restored.

Line repair crews have been boosted with extra staff coming in from Dunedin and Central Otago, and today would concentrate on the coastal Seadown area, where about 50 power poles had been knocked out.

Mr Skelton said damage was widespread and Alpine Energy appreciated that people were being "very patient out there".

In Mid Canterbury, Electricity Ashburton has managed to halve the numbers of people still without power.

Electricity Ashburton general manager Gordon Guthrie said about 3000 properties were now waiting to be reconnected.

"We're making fairly good progress," he said.

In North Canterbury, less than 10 homes were still without power, Mainpower planning manager Stuart Wilson said.

A few water pumps and sheds still needed to be reconnected, but Mr Wilson said he hoped they would be "pretty much all connected by lunchtime".

MetService said today that a cold front should move onto the far south this evening.

It said: "This is likely to bring snow showers to near sea-level in parts of Southland and Otago, especially in the area from the Catlins to the Otago Peninsula.

"The snow is currently not expected to accumulate to warning amounts over a widespread area, but significant falls could occur in brief heavy snow showers.

"Forecasters will also watch this area, and issue a warning if snow accumulations look likely to exceed warning criteria."

- NZPA, HERALD ONLINE STAFF