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About 30 residents attended a Vector meeting at Leigh Hall on Thursday, October 8, to discuss ongoing electricity supply issues and potential solutions to improve reliability across the area.
Whangateau Residents and Ratepayers Association committee member Anna Kominik said the meeting was an opportunity to understand what options were available to make the service more affordable and reliable.
“It’s not just about the money, it’s about actually getting power and how that power gets to our houses,” she said.
“People are having outages frequently, sometimes more than once a month and that’s not great for security of supply considering the amount they’re paying for their electricity.”
Vector explained that some interruptions were necessary to carry out major infrastructure work, including replacing poles and installing new cables, while others resulted from temporary faults, such as branches coming into contact with power lines.
The company said its annual network investment was substantial, with possible solutions varying by location. These could include new power lines, batteries, generators and additional vegetation maintenance.
Kominik also suggested exploring alternatives such as solar power and more affordable batteries.
Tensions rose as residents and Vector representatives discussed the timing and duration of planned outages.
“There’s never a good time for planned outages, as depending on the time of day, someone will always be affected, but it’s important to carry them out to continue improving the infrastructure in the area,” Vector Group chief executive Chris Blenkiron said.
Vector committed to considering the community’s feedback and holding another meeting within 12 months.
A Vector spokesperson said about $13 million in new investment was underway locally to improve network resilience and reduce the impact of power outages, in addition to about $400,000 spent annually keeping trees clear of power lines.
The planned upgrades include a new seven-kilometre supply line to Omaha and two backup generators near Leigh and Omaha, providing alternative local power sources if the supply from Warkworth is disrupted.
The company also outlined longer-term plans for a further $50 million investment in two underground cables along the proposed Warkworth to Te Hana motorway corridor, complementing existing infrastructure that includes two overhead lines through Dome Valley.
The spokesperson said the additional cables would improve regional supply reliability while supporting local growth and economic development.
