KEY POINTS:
Hydro lake levels were below average for this time of year but the Government was not yet proposing to call for the start of a public electricity conservation campaign, Energy Minister David Parker said.
National's energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee today said hydro lake levels were at 61 per cent of average, thermal generation was running at full capacity and the system had "little or no room for even minor malfunction".
Two weeks ago, when lake levels were at 65 per cent of average, Transpower had said the lake levels were concerning and that a public conservation campaign was in its planning stages, Mr Brownlee said.
Last week, less than 1 per cent of New Zealand's electricity was generated from wind and less than 8 per cent from geothermal heat "meaning we are very, very dependent on thermal generation at the current time to keep the lights on," he said.
Figures showed that last week, 42 per cent of New Zealand's electricity came from coal and gas, well up on average, he said.
A "small malfunction" from any one of the coal or gas-fired plants would be disastrous for New Zealand's security of supply, he said.
The National MP today questioned when Mr Parker would order the start of the public electricity conservation campaign that had been planned by the national winter power committee.
Mr Parker agreed hydro storage was less than average for this time of year because of the drought.
"But we are not at the stage where we propose calling for public conservation campaigns."
Mr Parker said that last week, even after the prolonged drought, more than half of New Zealand's electricity had come from renewable sources.
- NZPA
