Govt Launches Investigation into Northland Transmission Tower Failure

The government-ordered investigation aims to determine the cause of the event, evaluate the response, and identify lessons from the recovery efforts.

Energy Minister Simeon Brown has released the terms of reference for the Electricity Authority’s investigation into the Northland transmission tower failure on June 20, 2024, which caused significant power outages in the region.

“What happened in Northland last week was unacceptable, with tens of thousands of consumers left without power due to poor maintenance practices, resulting in a significant cost to the local economy,” Mr. Brown stated.

He emphasized the avoidable nature of the incident, which had a widespread impact on families, businesses, and communities.

“Preserving the resilience of our energy system is a top priority, and I am taking this seriously. We need swift answers to ensure lessons are learned and mistakes are not repeated,” Mr. Brown said.

He directed the Electricity Authority to conduct a thorough review and report on the grid emergency event to provide a comprehensive understanding of what occurred and how such incidents can be prevented in the future.

The government-ordered investigation aims to determine the cause of the event, evaluate the response, and identify lessons from the recovery efforts. This includes assessing the actions taken by the grid owner, system operator, and other participants.

The investigation will examine whether the actions taken to restore supply were in line with good industry practices and whether communications from Transpower, lines companies, retailers, businesses, and the public were appropriate after the tower collapse.

Additionally, the investigation will consider any improvements that could enhance New Zealand’s electricity system resilience.

The Electricity Authority is expected to prepare a report within 12 weeks, and the Minister for Energy will make it publicly available within 15 days of receiving the final report.