More rain needed to avert power crisis

Southern hydro storage lakes have risen but are not high enough, say electricity generators.

Heavy rain has eased concerns of a power crisis, but power companies remained cautious yesterday.

"There is some way to go yet before we are out of the woods. We need more rain," Meridian Energy spokesman Alan Seay said.

National storage capacity was at 83 per cent of average for this time of year, up from a low of 65 per cent a month ago. But most of the rain has fallen in the North Island, with lakes there at 197 per cent of average for this time of year compared to the South Island's lakes which were at 69 per cent of average.

The Waitaki catchment did not get rain in the same quantities as Otago coastal areas during the past few days, Mr Seay said.

"Things are still tight but not as tight as a week ago."

The Waitaki system, which generated a quarter of New Zealand's electricity production, was only 57 per cent full, he said.

- OTAGO DAILY TIMES