NZ power grid protection from coronal mass ejection

B. Pinkney made this Official Information request to Transpower New Zealand Limited

The request was successful.

From: B. Pinkney

Dear Transpower New Zealand Limited,

A coronal mass ejection can have devastating effects on power grids, which can take many years to repair all the while, New Zealanders and plunged into darkness with no access to electricity.

The chance of Earth being hit by a grid-affecting solar storm between 2012 and 2022 is 12%. After this, the risk increases by 1% for every year that passes.

Can you please provide me details on what planning and research have been undertaken or commissioned by Transpower relating to grid-related damage from solar activity and grid hardening.

Yours faithfully,

B. Pinkney

Link to this

From: Hanna Davies
Transpower New Zealand Limited

Tēnā koe Mr Pinkney

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982
requesting details on what planning and research has been undertaken or
commissioned by Transpower relating to grid-related damage from solar
activity and grid hardening. We received this request on Monday 12
February through the online request forum fyi.org.nz. We will respond to
you as soon as practicable within the 20 working day timeframe, which ends
on 12 March 2018.

 

In the meantime, please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any
further questions or comments.

 

Ngā mihi nui

Hanna

 

HANNA DAVIES
Governance Counsel

Transpower New Zealand Ltd
Waikoukou, 22 Boulcott Street, PO Box 1021, Wellington

P 04 590 7040
M 027 418 6105
[1]transpower.co.nz

CAUTION: This message and any attachments contain information that is
CONFIDENTIAL and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the intended
recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this email message or
attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of this
message and attachments.

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.transpower.co.nz/

Link to this

From: B. Pinkney

Dear Hanna Davies,

It would seem that a response to my request has been delayed. By law, Transpower should normally have responded promptly and by March 09, 2018.

I ask for your prompt response to my request.

Yours sincerely,

B. Pinkney

Link to this

From: Hanna Davies
Transpower New Zealand Limited


Attachment OIA 176 Response FINAL.pdf
244K Download View as HTML


Tçnâ koe B Pinkney

 

Thank you for your request under the Official Information Act 1982 asking
for details on what planning and research has been undertaken or
commissioned by Transpower relating to grid-related damage from solar
activity and grid hardening.

 

Your request was sent on Sunday 11 February and we received your request
in our offices on Monday 12 February. The time allowed to respond under
the Official Information Act is 20 working days, which is today’s date.   

 

Please see attached our response to your request.

If you require any further information, or would like to discuss further,
please do not hesitate to get in touch.

 

Ngâ mihi nui

Hanna

 

HANNA DAVIES
Governance Counsel

Transpower New Zealand Ltd
Waikoukou, 22 Boulcott Street, PO Box 1021, Wellington

P 04 590 7040
M 027 418 6105
[1]transpower.co.nz

CAUTION: This message and any attachments contain information that is
CONFIDENTIAL and may be LEGALLY PRIVILEGED. If you are not the intended
recipient any use, disclosure or copying of this email message or
attachments is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in
error, please notify the sender immediately and erase all copies of this
message and attachments.

 

References

Visible links
1. http://www.transpower.co.nz/

Link to this

Nicky McLean left an annotation ()

NZ's power network was disrupted around 3pm, 6’th November 2001. Effects can be less direct, perhaps affecting prices, as reported in Solar activity and economic fundamentals: Evidence from 12 geographically disparate power grids, by Kevin F. Forbes and O.C. St Cyr, in Space Weather, 2008 volume 6. As around 8 a.m. 21’st November 2003.

Link to this

Things to do with this request

Anyone:
Transpower New Zealand Limited only: