Vector Network News

As homes and businesses across the country light up with the colours of the season this Christmas, Vector reminds customers to keep safety top of mind when powering decorations with electricity. By observing the following simple tips, customers can help ensure that their festive illuminations will remain vibrantly lit, and safe, throughout the season.

* Watch for lines and poles. Be sure to install decorations away from power poles and lines

* Don't overload. Don't overload wall outlets or extension cords. Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per single extension cord.

* Take extra care outdoors. Only use lights and extension cords designed for outdoor use and keep electric connections above ground and out of areas where water may collect.

* Check for damaged wires. Check each set of lights, new or old, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. Discard damaged sets or repair them before using.

Whether indoors or out, holiday decorations can use a tremendous amount of energy. To save money and energy this season, customers may consider purchasing LED lights and other new technologies. Increasingly popular and widely available, LED decorations are much longer lasting and far less expensive to operate than traditional incandescent bulb decorations. Other energy efficient decoration options include pre-lit fibre optic Christmas trees and using timers to ensure lights are on only when someone is home to enjoy them.

Enjoy the holiday season, VNN will return on 6 January, 2014

NETWORK SUMMARY for week ending 15 December 2013

ELECTRICITY

The predicted heavy thunderstorms rolled over parts of the city yesterday with one of our transformers in Helensville damaged because of a lightning strike. Crews worked throughout the night to replace it.

We were alerted to three car v pole accidents during the week in the Auckland suburbs of Whenuapai, Bayswater and Papakura. There were also two car v pillar incidents on Great South Road in Wiri and on Shirley Road in Papatoetoe.

Our crews were called out to isolate power at homes in Te Arai Point (north of Auckland), Manurewa and in Mangere to make them safe after houses were damaged by fire.

Our crews also attended a substantial factory fire on the Te Atatu peninsula on the weekend.

Lines were reported down in Glen Eden, Manly and Bethells Beach and urgent repairs were carried out within a short space of time.

GAS

Contractors struck gas pipes while carrying out work in several locations over the week – two in Hamilton, and four in the Auckland suburbs of Ponsonby, Greenlane, Silverdale and Westmere.

PROJECTS

Major works are underway in Flatbush, to power up for the large scale town centre development, which will see 40,000 people living there by the end of 2025.

Directional drilling to enable installation of underground cable ducts has begun along Chapel Road (along the berm) and Ormiston Road (down the middle of the road) but will pause on December 20 for the holiday period.

Works will resume on January 15, 2014 along the stretch of road and through into Ti Rakau Drive. The entire project will cost around $11 million and will cover six kilometres of roads. The work is scheduled for completion mid-2014.

Vector is taking utmost care not to disrupt Christmas shoppers (Botany Town Centre) as well as holiday traffic. Work will be completed outside schools before students return at the end of January 2014.

SHORTS

• Vector owns over 17,800 kilometres of overhead and underground lines in the greater Auckland area, and 12,752 of gas pipe lines, almost half of which supply gas to Auckland.

• Vector, proud sponsor of the Arena.

Vector owns and manages a unique portfolio which consists of electricity distribution, gas transmission and distribution, electricity and gas metering installations and data management services, natural gas and LPG and fibre optic networks.

Vector is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange with ticker symbol VCT. For further information, visit www.vector.co.nz

ENDS

© Scoop Media