10 Aug 2021

Power cuts on coldest night: what's going on?

From Nine To Noon, 10:06 am on 10 August 2021
Electricity pylon.

Electricity pylon. Photo: AFP

Transpower says power supply remains tight this morning, following last night's blackouts across the central North Island and Marlborough.

The national grid operator says electricity demand touched an all-time high last night and asked lines companies to reduce their load.

Thousands of people were without power for parts of the evening as companies responded to this request.

Transpower has said it predicted the high demand but could not secure the supply from generators, and it will be asking questions as to why that was.

Kathryn speaks with Graeme Peters, Chief Executive of the Electricity Networks Association, which represents 27 local electricity distribution businesses throughout the country.