Waikoukou
22 Boulcott Street
PO Box 1021
Wel ington 6140
New Zealand
P 64 4 495 7000
F 64 4 495 6968
www.transpower.co.nz
22 September 2021
F Smith
via the FYI website: [FYI request #16386 email]
Dear F Smith
Request for information about power outage on 9th August 2021 and communications
I refer to your Official Information Act request, dated 11 August 2021, for the fol owing:
(a) all internal information of which includes communication e.g. verbal, emails, text etc.
including any documents and other relevant information for the incident of the
power outage across the country on Monday 9th August 2021
(b) information as to why the general public was not notified until after the power was
cut off, and specifically why was there absolutely no prior communication or warning
before the outage took place.
We have decided to grant your request. However, the large volume of information
requested in part (a) presents challenges in sharing via email response. We have therefore
decided to release that information to you in either physical form or through our electronic
transfer portal. Please confirm which method you would prefer for accessing this
information. The information in response to part (b), an email, is attached.
We have used our best endeavours to ensure we have captured al information relevant to
your request. However, given the large scope of the request we have limited our search for
information and documents to those Transpower personnel most likely to hold the
information and those who have senior responsibilities in our system operator and
communications teams. Transpower has not carried out a forensic electronic search for
documents as the time limitations of the Official Information Act make it impracticable to do
so. We do not consider a forensic electronic search would be likely to produce any
additional relevant material. While we expect this response includes al documents relevant
to the request, given the time frames under the Official Information Act it is possible we will
identify additional relevant information after the date of this response. If we do so, we will
provide a supplement to this response. In our opinion, the only alternative was to refuse
the request under section 18(f) of the Official Information Act on the basis it would require
substantial collation or research.
We have withheld some information to protect the privacy of individuals (section 9(2)(a))
and to maintain legal privilege (section 9(2)(h)). Transpower considers that withholding this
information for the protection of privacy is not outweighed by other considerations which
render it desirable, in the public interest, to make that information available.
In order to provide you with further context in terms of the information provided:
• This information covers the period leading up to the event on 9 August through to 13
August 2021. It represents our understanding at the time the information was
created and may have subsequently been reinterpreted or corrected
• There is also a range of publicly available information which Transpower produces or
uses and may be of assistance, including:
- Transpower’s Formal Notices:
https://www.transpower.co.nz/system-operator/operational-
information/formal-notices
- New Zealand Generation Balance Reports:
https://nzgb.redspider.co.nz/
- Planned Outage Co-ordinator Process information:
https://pocp.redspider.co.nz/
- NZX and Electricity Authority’s Wholesales Information Trading System:
https://www1.electricityinfo.co.nz/
• Transpower has commenced an independent investigation into the events of 9
August which wil be completed by 9 November 2021. This investigation wil provide
a detailed explanation of the event and wil be made public.
You have the right to seek an investigation and review by the Ombudsman of this decision.
Information about how to make a complaint is available at www.ombudsman.parliament.nz.
If you wish to discuss any aspect of your request with us, including this decision, please feel
free to contact me ([email address]).
Kind regards
Charlotte Edwards
Corporate Counsel
1982
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