"I'm very angry about the effect on businesses, I'm angry about the effect on the elderly or people using medical equipment, and I'm angry for those people who were just bloody cold."
Clyde-based former Aurora professional engineer Steve Tilleyshort, who worked for the company for 17 years, said he had completed the design to switch the substation from 6.6kv to 11kv but Aurora had not gone ahead with the plan.
For the hospitality industry the blackout came on what was traditionally the busiest day of the week.
Olivers Restaurant and Bar owner David Ritchie estimated losses for the day amounted to about $4000 in lack of revenue, staff wages, and wasted food and post-lockdown it was a cruel blow.
The Old Clyde Bank cafe owner Wendy Hecht-Wendt said the power cut was "hugely damaging" to businesses attempting to recoup lockdown losses.
Post Office Cafe and Bar owner Jackie Biemond said she had 80 people booked for lunch and estimated her losses also sat at about $4000 but she reopened after power was restored.
Paulina's Restaurant owner Paulina Corvalan said she had managed some trade due to having a woodfire oven but opted to close for the evening and cancel all bookings.
Service industries were also affected. Dunstan Motors owner Ann-Marie Lines said takings on a Sunday were typically around $3000 to $4000.
Elderly residents in Clyde's council-owned Annan Flats had toughed it out with a lack of heating, 90-year-old John Irvine said.
His neighbour Rose-Anna Wakefield (80) drove to Alexandra for food for her and her neighbours.
An Aurora Energy spokeswoman apologised to customers, given the extremely cold weather in Clyde, and said the second transformer in the substation was never operational as a backup.
"Our backup for the single transformer on site is the mobile substation."
The mobile substation would remain in Clyde while further maintenance was completed, she said.
Affected customers would receive a $50 credit.
