Relief for electricity generators

Although the mild winter has meant less snow and a poor ski season for some, warm weather is unlikely to mean any problems for South Island electricity generators.

Meridian spokesman Alan Seay said hydro lake levels were now close to average for this time of year. And with the worst of the winter now over, the days and nights of peak electricity demand were also gone.

"It's bog-average for this time of year. In the last two weeks we've had major inflows," said Mr Seay.

As recently as a month ago, power companies were getting concerned as only a few weeks of cold weather remained and lake levels were low.

But, Mr Seay said, "we've had these inflows that have taken us back to average for around this time of year. Snow is a contributor, but not a big one, it's the rain we rely on - the northwesterly weather patterns".

"The Manapouri catchment can go from low levels to high in a very short space of time. From now on, to late summer, we would expect to get large inflows. Ideally you'd try to get into about April with the lakes full."

Major stations kept generating and the weather was mild, so this winter went well.