The death of a Taupo woman is being investigated by police, after they were told she died because a power cut switched off her breathing machine.

Police were called to a Rifle Range Road property at 8am yesterday, after Fai Deane was found unconscious and unresponsive.  Despite attempts, the 50-year-old could not be revived.

Lines company Unison Networks is responsible for electricity distribution in Taupo.

Customer care manager Danny Gough this morning confirmed a power cut affected 630 properties in Rifle Range Road early yesterday morning.

The outage was caused by a car crashing into a power pole at 3.20.

Power was restored to all but 65 properties within 10 to 15 minutes, and to all by about 7.20.

In 2007 a Mangere woman on a breathing machine, Folole Muliaga, died the same day a contractor to Mercury Energy cut the power to her home