Y2K causes generator shortage

By Joe Helm

Companies worried about power failure resulting from computer problems as the new millennium dawns have already booked all available power generators to carry them through any crisis.

Bill Howse of generator hire company Powerhowse Electric, said his fleet of generators was booked up months ago. He had fielded an extra 250 enquiries for generators from 50KVA to 1000 KVA and was now looking at importing extra generators to meet demand.

Mr Howse said his generators had been hired to cover from the end of August this year to the end of February next year.

"That covers the three critical periods, 9/9/99, December 31 and the leap year next February."

Mr Howse said the generators had not been hired by people organising large millennium parties.

"They've gone to a lot of infrastructure type companies concerned with things like health care, sewage, and refrigeration," he said.

"There are a lot of people out there who do not believe the power will stay on over the December 31 period so they are taking out a type of insurance by hiring generators."

Mr Howse said his staff been told they would not be able to take holidays over the new year period.

Mike Jacomb of Power Hire said 90 per cent of his generator fleet had been booked for at least four months.

He declined to say how many generators that was. His clients included Government departments, oil companies, computer centres, banks and hospitals.

"They're all worried the power grid will fail," he said.

Mr Jacomb said generators had been hired for periods from 20 to 64 days at a cost of up to $1000 a day for a big generator, excluding fuel costs. He said there were no generators available overseas to be sent to New Zealand.