'Gas cheats' to be punished for using precious supplies

11.45am - By LEAH McFALL

Hawke's Bay "gas cheats" using up precious natural gas supplies in the flood-hit region will be punished with a new system of red and yellow cards, says the Gas Association.

The Natural Gas Company (NGC) gas main feeding the region was swept away by floodwaters on Monday, cutting off the supply and bringing major industries to a halt.

Big gas users were obliged under contract to shed any residual gas and leave their supply switched off, leaving the limited remaining gas for small business and residential customers and essential services.

But Gas Association chairman Trevor Goodwin told NZPA today some commercial and industrial users in the Hawke's Bay and Tararua regions were turning their gas back on, threatening the dwindling supply.

As a result, the association had introduced the "unprecedented" step of issuing single "yellow card" warnings to users who have turned their gas back on.

If they persisted, their meters would be removed: "This is the 'red card sin-bin'," he said.

One yellow card had already been issued this morning.

"We're giving people the opportunity to play the game, or suffer the consequences."

Big users drained a limited cache of gas, which could have "catastrophic consequences" for hospitals, some households and rest homes, Mr Goodwin said.

While some consumers had complained the move discriminated against them, most had complied.

The rationing hit businesses hard at a busy time for moteliers and restaurants, with the region's Art Deco Festival this weekend.

He said he could sympathise with the impulse to turn gas back on: "I can understand the pressure they're under...unfortunately, this is beyond our control."

According to the Gas Association helpline, only 13 days' worth of residual gas remained in the region's pipes, providing use remained at existing low levels.

It is estimated repairs on the severed pipeline could take at least a fortnight to fix, as engineers needed the swollen Manawatu River to subside.

About 6000 consumers in Pahiatua, Mangatainoka, Dannevirke, Napier and Hastings have been asked to use gas sparingly until repairs are made.

- NZPA