- 2006 Auckland Blackout
The 2006 Auckland Blackout refers to the massive electrical blackout in
Auckland , the largest city inNew Zealand , onJune 12 2006 . It started at 8:30 am local time, with most areas of Auckland regaining power by 2:45 pm local time. It affected some 230,000 customers had an impact on at least 700,000 people in and around the city.Immediate impact
Power went off at around 08:30 am local time on
June 12 2006 over half ofAuckland inNew Zealand . Most of southern and centralAuckland , including the central business district, were without power.Cause
The cause of the blackout was determined to be a grounding cable falling across the 110kV feeder at the Otahuhu B sub-station. This was caused by the failure of a corroded
shackle , as the result of unusually high winds. [cite news
author = Staff writer
title = Shackle failure leads to Auckland blackout
url = http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.asp?feed=AP&Date=20060616&ID=5803162
work = Associated Press Newswires
publisher = The Associated Press
date =2006-06-17
accessdate = 2006-09-26
language = English]Effects
Due to the power outage, many public services and business operations were disrupted:
* suburban commuter railway services were suspended
* over 300 groups of traffic lights were off
* some hospitals were closed and left only emergency services in operations
* radio station transmitters located in the Skytower were also taken offline for a period of time
* mobile phone and telephone service failures
* people stuck in lifts in office buildings
* end of semester exams due to be held that day at local universities were postponed.Since the central business district was without power from the morning rush hours, business operations and traffic were disrupted severely. Many businesses sent their staff home.
Restoration of service
Power was restored to the central business district of
Auckland at 12:40 local time, 12th June 2006. It was estimated that all affected areas would have their power restored by 16:30 local time. At approximately 14:45, power was restored to most of Auckland, except Penrose, Glen Innes,East Tamaki , andOtahuhu .ee also
*
1998 Auckland power crisis
*List of power outages References
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