Far North power generator and electricity network operator Top Energy has confirmed that it has identified the most likely cause of the fault on its power system last Friday. Damaged insulators within the Kaikohe substation have been identified, tested and replaced today.
But the company’s team of electrical engineers and specialist contractors have been unable to replicate the exact conditions that led to last week’s region-wide electricity outage. They will be continuing their investigations tomorrow, consulting with equipment manufacturers and other specialists and conducting further testing to confirm their view that the replaced equipment was the cause of the failure.
At this stage the likelihood of a second incident resulting from the cause of Friday’s outage has been reduced significantly but not yet eliminated, the company says.
CEO Russell Shaw thanked Transpower and Northpower for the assistance and expertise that they have provided in working through this issue in Top Energy’s Kaikohe substation.
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