Kathryn McCoy Thieves are playing Russian roulette with their lives and putting public safety at risk by tampering with electricity network equipment in search of copper earth wire.
Network management company PowerNet says this warning follows a spate of recent copper thefts around Invercargill’s urban sites.
PowerNet’s HSE and Field Training Manager, Brett Coradine, says several equipment sites have been identified over the past week.
“We have had several sites on the Electricity Invercargill Ltd’s network where earth wire from active worksites and a zone substation had been removed, leaving electricity equipment extremely unsafe.
The thieves risk electrocuting themselves and endangering the public through electrocution and fire. Earth equipment provides electrical protection, without which it exposes people and property to unnecessary risk.
“We have dispatched our PowerNet inspection teams based in Invercargill to check all network equipment in the area. The faults teams will urgently repair any faults found.
“It is concerning that people are willing to risk their lives and the lives of those in our community for scrap metal that is worth very little in dollar terms.
PowerNet is appealing to the public for any information.
ENDS
More Information:
Brett Coradine
PowerNet HSE and Field Training Manager
027 300 98 93
