“Cyclone Gabrielle caused the greatest loss of power supply the region has ever experienced,” he said.
“We made a commitment to the people of Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti that we would work to make their power supply more resilient to future extreme weather and seismic events.”
Footprints in the mud at Redclyffe Substation after Cyclone Gabrielle hit Hawke’s Bay in February 2023.
He said the Commission had “rigorously tested” the plans and its approval meant the rebuild could be completed.
Significant work had already been completed to boost resilience with an additional larger capacity transformer installed last year. It had doubled the amount of electricity that can be imported into the region via Transpower’s high-voltage national electricity transmission.
Webb said the package of post-Gabrielle work was planned alongside local lines company partners Unison Networks and Firstlight Network, in consultation with local communities and businesses.
It will enable businesses and communities in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti to “move into that electrified future with confidence”.
Transpower says there will be no interruption to local electricity supply during the rebuild.
Doug Laing is a Hawke’s Bay Today reporter, based in Napier, with more than 50 years’ experience in the news industry, and more than three decades of trying to help sports teams, clubs and children stay in the game.