Massive power outage over Taranaki 'freaks' residents out

BREAKING NEWS: There has been a 'massive' power outage in Taranaki this morning.

The early morning power outage began with signs of flickering at around 11pm, following this at 2am this morning the power went out and New Plymouth residents were living in fear.

However a PowerCo spokesperson said for the people that do not have power they will have power by 6.30am.

Why the power outage occured is under investigation however the outage has effected as far away as Midhirst, Stratford and Waitara.

One resident infonews.co.nz reporter managed to speak to said "It is scary considering we have all the quakes going around. Being without power and having small children was a worry"

The power turned on for most Taranaki residents at around 3.30 much to the delight to most.

infonews.co.nz's own Michael Riley said it all began with flickering.

"It was like the power couldnt make its mind up. Got fustrating after a an hour of the lights turning off and then on again, so I turned my lights off at the switch"

Flickering of lights is very dangerous and is a common cause of an overload which can cause serious fires in homes.

Many New Plymouth residents were woken up by this mornings early quakes that rattled Taupo and Seddon, and this is why they were in fear when the power went out.

"Being cut off to everyone else is a worry" one resident posted to social networking site Facebook.

At 5.30am Michael Riley will have just came back from the streets of New Plymouth, I am out and about looking around for anyone else who is awake since the quakes struck.

It is unconfirmed how many customers are effected.

This is breaking news, more to follow...