PowerCo says the storm that battered South Taranaki and Wanganui last weekend is a timely reminder for land owners to ensure trees are trimmed well away from overhead lines.
Strong winds caused tree branches to break and damage lines, causing some of the power outages. Around 30,000 homes were affected by the power cuts last Saturday, and around 150 remain without power.
Network operations manager Phil Marsh says tree owners are responsible for keeping trees away from lines, and should engage professional tree trimming companies where needed.
“Power supplies to rural communities are precious and any power cuts in remote locations can be tricky to repair,” he says.
Powerco is currently running a rural tree campaign, which will end on March 31; for every tree trimming an owner pays for, Powerco will donate $100 to a school of their choice.
A list of approved tree trimming contractors is available on Powerco’s website.
3 News