Auckland central business district power failure

Abstract

This paper describes how, in mid February of 1998, the Auckland central business district (New Zealand) suffered a power failure that left it with a minimal supply of power for three weeks and shortages and restrictions for another month or more. By the beginning of April, power supplies were sufficient-but still at risk from a single failure. It will be several months before the supply is reasonably secure and at least 18 months before a new tunnel carrying two 230 MVA 110 kV power cables is in service.