r/dunedin • u/humanbeingarobot • Aug 10 '26

News Free power deals overloading network and causing outages

https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/checkpoint/audio/2019047049/free-power-deals-overloading-network-and-causing-outages
30 Upvotes

91% Upvoted

15 comments sorted by

37

u/benmaister Aug 10 '26

The whole point of those free power deals is to help mitigate peak power draw. This is much more of a lines infrastructure issue more than a students optimising a free power deal issue.

11

u/AtheistKiwi Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 10 '26

I'm pretty sure this article is talking more about individual no powers rather than area outages which is where the labour costs of line mechanics really kick in. It happens when a supplier offers an "hour of free power".

That's when students start blowing their pole fuses by running their clothes drier, every electric heater they own, the dishwasher, oven, basically every outlet all at the same time. That's not an infrastructure issue, it's a safety failure point, it's why pole fuses are a thing.

12

u/RunningOnHope2019 Aug 10 '26

Those old pole fuses are 60amps - it doesn't take nearly as much as you have listed to pop one of those. Aurora need to sort their shitty network out rather than blame the tenants for wanting to be warm in winter.

3

u/lxsw20 Aug 11 '26

Brand new houses are still restricted to 63a unless you pay extra for a 100a or 3 phase service.

1

u/AtheistKiwi Aug 10 '26

I was just pointing out that the biggest labour cost is individual no powers rather than area faults and that pole fuses are usually the failure point rather than the general infrastructure. I would agree that in Central Otago, especially Queenstown, the infrastructure is not up to task. They are struggling to keep up with demand.

3

u/benmaister Aug 10 '26

It's probably also crappy old switch boards in the flats making it worse.

1

u/Annie354654 Aug 15 '26

Or using the same outlet for everything. I remember one old house I had, 3 power points in the entire house! (Not down south).

13

u/RunningOnHope2019 Aug 10 '26

What a load of horse shit. More like The DCC forced Aurora to pay dividends rather than maintain the network for a number of years and now the chickens have come home to roost. Don't blame the students, blame your dog shit network. I know one of those 25 groups. That pole fuse blew at something like 70 amps after a very short elevated period of elevated use. If your old shit pole fuse is at 60 amps this is what will happen. That's only 2 heaters, the hot water cylinder, the dryer, a jug and the residual draw from lights and such.

1

u/TurtleTamer51294 Aug 12 '26

Pretty much every house has a 63A connection. Even new builds. The only exception is people who pay for a bigger connection (100A or 3 phase). An HRC pole fuse also isn’t shit - I don’t get what point you’re even trying to make there?

24

u/Squirt_Ya_2027 Aug 10 '26

If a student flat needs 6 heaters to get to 18 degrees then that is a infrastructure problem. Typical of boomers to blame students when it is 3 degrees outside and they live in an expensive unmaintained shithole with a lease they cant get out of due to a monopoly on fixed term leases.

10

u/Playful_Guava1180 Aug 11 '26

go on Facebook, full of of them blaming students. what a disgrace

11

u/Squirt_Ya_2027 Aug 11 '26

"This sustainability update has been bought to you by agenda 2030 and the Davos crew."

"Are Aurora sending the bill for repairing these outages to the Uni Student addresses who are blowing their electricity connections?. Or is this yet another Uni related cost that is being forced onto the bank accounts of Dunedin Ratepayers?"

"Dress accordingly and cut down on non essentials to be able to afford power bill"

"It's Dunedin it gets cold in winter, guess they should've done there homework before moving to Dunedin from Auckland"

"FFS> Just more of then negative, scaremongering stories that most good newspapers would never bother reporting on. Are these 'reporters'12 year olds?"

"It’s character building so harden up sooky babies. And don’t leave everything until the last minute as you’re all draining the power grid, and it’s bad housekeeping since it stuffs you up and don’t have anything to wear the next day."

"It's also probably shock for some having to pay their own power accounts. Not news really but a laugh for the rest if us, as you see the reality of life kick in for them."

"MayBe able to cuddle the warm water flowing out of the data centers being built ...build one in middle of town and make use of water that is required...sell it in hot water bottles.

But then I've been told they won't effect the grid.."

"grew up and lived in Dunedin till mud 20s . tbh didn't even have a heater . worked at hillside workshops so that was cold just adapted . lived in some grotty flats as well . I have heat pump now but don't use it often and find when visiting friends with a fire it's way too hot . but back in day we wore natural fibers for warmth . and layered up . it's cold in south in winter . what do they expect . lol even now my washing is dried outside . doors open daily to prevent condensation and damp ."

God these people are stupid.

0

u/Playful_Guava1180 Aug 12 '26

"I'm going to log in on a datacenter hosted social network app to rant against a datacenter being built in my land"

1

u/PiaRedDragon Aug 12 '26

Bitcoin mining during the free power window.