[1][2] A 1998 ministerial inquiry criticised both the Auckland Electric Power Board and its privatised successor, which had halved its staff after taking over in October 1993.

The report blamed risk and asset management and contingency planning, but said reviews of the electricity network were in accordance with industry practice.

[4] At the time, almost all of Auckland's central business district was supplied with electricity by Mercury Energy Limited via four 110 kV power cables from the national grid at Transpower's Penrose substation, with two cables each connecting to two central city substations at Liverpool Street and Quay Street.

The newer oil cables were irreparable, so to restore full supply to the city, a temporary 110 kV overhead line was constructed along the rail corridor between Penrose and Liverpool Street.

[citation needed] Energy Minister Max Bradford commissioned an independent report into the Auckland power supply failure.