Hydro's power share shrinks

Electricity generation was almost flat last year compared with 2004 but hydro's share of it shrank nonetheless.

Statistics New Zealand reported yesterday that total generation at 39,400GWh was only 0.1 per cent higher than the year before.

Although the June quarter was 2 per cent higher than a year earlier, the September quarter was 2 per cent lower.

Hydro-electric generation was 13 per cent lower for the year and contributed only 59.4 per cent of generation, compared with an average of 62.3 per cent over the past five years - two of which were marked by power crises.

In the last three months of the year, thermal generators produced 42 per cent of electricity, the highest share on record for a December quarter and 29 per cent more than in the same period in 2004.

That is likely to reflect the fact that storage in hydro lakes declined markedly during the December quarter, a period when it normally increases.

Statistics NZ said electricity prices for household consumers rose 4.1 per cent over 2005, following rises of 8.8 and 9.3 per cent over the two previous years.

But for commercial consumers the increase was 9.8 per cent , on top of 11.7 per cent in 2004 and 6.1 per cent in 2003.B