Transpower makes repairs to National Grid following quake

Media release 9 March 2011

Transpower makes repairs to National Grid following the Christchurch Earthquake

Transpower advises that it is working quickly to repair the damage to the National Grid in Christchurch following the recent earthquake.

While the National Grid responded well during the event, and supply has remained on since it was restored on the afternoon of the earthquake, inspections have revealed significant damage to substation assets and buildings, as well as some movements in some tower foundations.

Transpower Chief Executive Patrick Strange said we were pleased with the way the power system responded, and although there was some liquefaction movement at our Bromley substation, the measures that had been implemented previously, particularly following the Los Angeles, Edgecumbe and other earthquakes, eliminated a lot of possible damage.

“However, there was significant damage to our building and switchboard at the Bromley substation which we are addressing with urgency.”

“We have taken some interim measures to ensure that the Bromley substation, an important point of power supply for the Christchurch region, remains in operation and are fast-tracking the construction of a new substation building and the installation of new switchgear to ensure power supply to the Christchurch area remains secure,” he said.

Transpower expects to have the building commissioned, along with new switchgear by the end of June 2011. The project will cost between $5-7million to complete.

Transpower is the State Owned Enterprise that plans, builds, maintains, and operates New Zealand’s high voltage electricity transmission network – the National Grid – which links generators to distribution companies and major industrial users.

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