15 June 2006
Transpower engages external experts
Transpower has asked independent engineering experts to review Monday’s incident which cut power to a large part of
Auckland.
Chief Executive Ralph Craven says Sinclair Knight Merz (SKM) have been engaged to undertake a full Incident Review.
Specifically, SKM have been asked to:
1. Identify what failed.
2. Identify the Maintenance Plan that covers items involved in the failure.
3. Assess whether Transpower was following this plan.
4. Note any adjustments to the Maintenance Plan that might be needed as a result of this review, including for instance,
assessment of how feasible it was for the planned processes to have identified the potential failure.
“Transpower will continue with its own investigation and will provide forensic data to aid the independent review by
SKM,” Dr Craven said. “We have also taken immediate steps to inspect similar equipment at Otahuhu and at our other major
substations around New Zealand.
“Transpower will also be looking at the way the restoration of the power supply was managed on Monday and whether there
are any lessons that can be learnt for the future.
“The report by SKM will be included with the comprehensive information Transpower has undertaken to provide to the
Minister of Energy by 23 June and will be publicly released.”
ENDS