Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Power restored to thousands in Central Otago

Updated at 11:00 am on 16 March 2010

Power has been restored to 11,500 customers in Central Otago after the main transformer tripped near Cromwell.

Residents in Queenstown, Arrowtown, Glenorchy and parts of Cromwell lost power from 8.30am until 10am on Tuesday.

Lines company Delta Utility Services says there was a fault on the Transpower 110,000-volt circuit between Cromwell and Frankton.

It says the transformer was upgraded several years ago and is not sure what caused the power cut.

Shops in Queenstown could not open and hotels were serving guests by candle light.

An investigation involving national grid operator Transpower and Delta Utilities is underway.

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