A new underground electricity cable should improve power supply security for parts of the Wakatipu.
Early last year, Aurora Energy started upgrading the Arrowtown 33kV distribution line, which runs from Frankton to Malaghans Rd.
Arrowtown, Arthurs Point, Coronet Peak, Dalefield, Gibbston and The Remarkables ski area were previously supplied by two power lines that shared the load between them, with limited access to an alternative electricity supply if there was an outage.
The issues came to a head last June and July when more than 2300 customers, including Coronet Peak, were left without power three times in three weeks, due to unexpected faults and tripping.
Aurora service delivery general manager Richard Starkey said the new 33kV underground cable provided increased capacity to cater to the "significant growth and new development" expected in the area.
That was positive for local customers, businesses and, in particular, skifields, he said.
"[It] will reduce the risk of significant outages due to more options to reconfigure the network if there is a widespread outage, thereby reducing the number of customers impacted."
Mr Starkey said the new cable would also help with the increasing demand for power as more people moved away from fossil fuels.
"More and more people are purchasing EVs and wanting more choice about how they use electricity, such as connecting solar to their home or business."
