Te Aponga Uira is pleased to confirm it has completed its major project to replace critical infrastructure (generation switch gear) in its generation site in Avatiu valley, aimed at strengthening the reliability of the electricity supply for Rarotonga. The project began in 2019 and has involved careful planning and management including three planned outages to Rarotonga in recent weeks. No further outages are planned for this project.

“I thank our team for this huge collaborative effort to see the project completed whilst maintaining business as usual,” said TAU Chief Executive Officer Lesley Katoa. “From our technical teams in our generation site, led by Karo Tararo and Tepou Raita, alongside our network team led by Makara Murare, our Customer Services team led by Mannie Aperau, and project lead, Chief Engineer Tei Nia, working with our technical experts out of New Zealand, McMahon and Brightwater Engineering among others. Every one of TAU’s 50 employees has been involved in the success of this project. Finally and importantly, I acknowledge and thank our customers for their patience and understanding during the planned outages. Although these were arranged for minimal disruption, we understand these can be an inconvenience given we are ourselves, also customers.”

TAU strives to provide reliable electricity to all customers 24/7 however planned and unplanned outages due to upgrades and other events do occur occasionally. As is our current practice, we will notify you about events through Facebook, our website and if time allows, via the traditional media platforms.

If you are concerned about the potential impact on your appliances due to power surges, we recommend considering surge protectors. We also suggest switching off such appliances during planned outages and serious weather events. Due to the complex nature of electricity supply and reflected in our terms and conditions, TAU is not liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience resulting from a failure of electricity supply.

By replacing aging equipment that has served the island for over 30 years, TAU has significantly bolstered its infrastructure’s reliability and resilience. Switchgear, as a key component of electricity distribution hardware, plays a pivotal role in connecting generation to demand. TAU operates two switch rooms that are integral to delivering a consistent and dependable electricity supply across Rarotonga.

TAU’s vision is to empower the community through sustainable and innovative energy solutions. This new switch gear will not only enable the supply of reliable electricity for years to come, but its modern features mean in the longer term it will be able to support additional upgrades to the system.

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