Power when we need it

By CHRIS DANIELS

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson opens a new power station today, one designed to sit idle most of the year, firing up only when needed to save us from the threat of winter power cuts.

The new station at Whirinaki, north of Napier, has three oil-fired turbines and is the first to be built by the Government to start generating in times of national power shortages.

Hydro lakes are full to overflowing, apparently giving Hodgson the opportunity to reassure the public that there will be almost no risk of power cuts this winter or next.

But last week state-owned power grid operator Transpower put a spanner in the works, warning big electricity users in the top of the South Island and Christchurch that they risked power cuts on cold winter nights.

This is because of transmission constraints restricting the amount of electricity that can be sent into the area from the Southern hydro power stations.

Transpower chief executive Ralph Craven said yesterday that he "expressed regret" to consumers for the "current uncertainty" over power supply, although the risk of power shortages this winter was likely to be small.

While the South Island problem relates to ageing transmission lines, the new Whirinaki station is designed to provide generation back-up when lake levels fall.

Contact Energy is building and running the new Whirinaki station on behalf of the Government, which has paid around $150 million for it.

The 155 megawatt plant can also be turned on in case of generation or transmission breakdowns.