Electricity dips compared to year earlier

Electricity generation fell in the March quarter compared to the same time last year, according to data out today from Statistics New Zealand.

Total electricity generated in the March 2005 quarter was 9204 gigawatt hours. On a seasonally adjusted basis this was 0.8 per cent lower compared to the previous March quarter, but 0.8 per cent higher than the December quarter.

For the year ended March total electricity generated was 39290 gigawatt hours, up 3.7 per cent on the previous year.

Annual hydro and wind generation was 8.7 per cent higher than the year-earlier, while thermal generation fell 5.2 per cent.

The commissioning of new wind turbines boosted wind generation to nearly four times that of the previous March quarter. Statistics New Zealand said wind generation now provided for nearly 2 per cent of power generated by renewable resources.

Hydro and wind generation accounted for 68 per cent of the total electricity generation over the year, compared with 64 per cent the previous March year.

Meanwhile diesel production was 16.6 per cent lower in the March 2005 quarter, than the previous March quarter. Stats NZ said the closure of the Marsden Point Refinery for 21 days in February and March for an upgrade was a factor in the fall.

Imports of refined diesel rose to 663,000 tonnes in the March year, up from 355,000 the previous year.

Petrol production in the March quarter was 5.1 per cent lower than the same time last year.

Retail petrol prices fell 0.1 per cent in the March quarter compared to the December quarter, but were 7.7 per cent higher than the previous March quarter.

- NZPA