Power off again

9:05 am on 8 September 2010

Electricity has again been lost in parts of Canterbury following an aftershock of magnitude 5.1 at 7.49am on Wednesday.

The lines company Orion says power was lost in some parts of the central business district, in suburbs and rural areas. However, at this stage it is unclear how much power is down.

Chief executive Roger Sutton says the power system automatically shuts down assets when something like a big earthquake happens.

He says crews are investigating to whether more damage has occured.

Mr Sutton says reconnections are now being carried-out.