Electricity savings top 10 per cent

By CHRIS DANIELS

Prospects of cold showers and power rationing are fading, with New Zealand's electricity savings topping 10 per cent for the first time.

Homes and businesses were asked six weeks ago to make savings of 10 per cent as low hydro lake levels and a lack of Maui gas to fuel power stations raised the spectre of New Zealand running out of electricity.

Helped by warm weather, these savings rates have grown steadily, with the highest level yet, 10.1 per cent, recorded on Wednesday.

These savings coupled with recent rain yesterday prompted the Winter Power Taskforce to take back its "Electricity Riskmeter" from a "very high" risk of winter power cuts, to "high".

But public congratulations from taskforce co-ordinator Patrick Strange were tempered by a warning that the nation was not yet out of the woods.

Hydro lake storage is now 84 per cent of the average, compared with 61 per cent on April 27. The latest Niwa three-month forecast is for normal rainfall and warmer temperatures.

"It is really gratifying to see that everybody got through that 10 per cent which, to be perfectly honest, surprised us,"said Dr Strange.

"Whereas weeks ago we were saying there was a risk of cuts, that risk has now undoubtedly really receded with the excellent ongoing savings."

A total of 290 gigawatt hours of power was saved in the past six weeks, the equivalent of 60 days of home hotwater cuts. The reason for continued savings was the risk of a dry spring. Dr Strange said the taskforce was still "cautiously nervous about the winter".

He reckoned the public would understand the need for continued savings.

Associate Energy Minister Harry Duynhoven, who is Acting Energy Minister while Pete Hodgson is overseas, said the common sense and public spirit of New Zealanders had lowered the risk of winter electricity shortages.

Although the risk had fallen it was important to keep saving power, as winter had only just begun.

"Heavy demand for electricity could still put the system under pressure if people suddenly give up their power conservation efforts. We need to keep up the savings for a few more weeks to make sure we put the risk of winter power shortages behind us."