POWER BREAK-DOWN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20572, 4 June 1941, Page 2

POWER BREAK-DOWN

“BLACK-OUT” IN NORTH

FAULTY INSULATOR

(Per Pres 9 Association.)

AUCKLAND, this day.

A complete “black-out” of the whole of the North Island north of Arapuni and minor disturbances throughout the North Island, were experienced when an 110,000 volt pillar insulator at Penrose sub-station broke down a few minutes after 7 o'clock last night. Short circuiting to earth, the insulator flashed a huge multi-coloured light which illuminated the Penrose district for a few seconds.

The break-down threw open the switches at Arapuni of the lines feeding the north and also pulled out the Auckland Electric Power Board’s substation at King’s Wharf which was running in conjunction with the other system. The Bay of Plenty was not affected.

The damaged insulator was quickly isolated from the rest of the system and the position at Arapuni was rectified without trouble or damage. • The power supply was resumed after 15 minutes of darkness. All the electrical services in Auckland were suspended for about 13 minutes, the only visible lights being those of the traffic and the ferry steamers. Tram-cars were delayed and disturbances occurred on some routes after the power supply had resumed. Candles were produced in many homes and buildings and persons relying on tram services in the squally rain were considerably inconvenienced.