The repair bill for damage to Far North power lines inflicted by Cyclone Ita is likely to top $150,000.
The tropical cyclone struck Northland just before Easter, with heavy rain in places and winds of up to 120km/h.
While damage to roads and buildings from storm surges was less than that caused by Cyclone Lusi a month earlier, damage to the lines network was far greater.
The storm peaked on the morning of April 17, by which time almost 6000 Far North households had lost their power supply.
By the time repair crews had to stop work for safety reasons at 6pm, about 1000 households and businesses were still without power.