Parliament hits target for savings

By KEVIN TAYLOR

Parliament has cut power use by at least 15 per cent in response to the looming winter electricity crisis.

The lights have been dimmed at the parliamentary complex for several weeks, and air-conditioning has been adjusted.

Staff in the complex, made up of Parliament, the Beehive and Bowen House, have been urged to turn off computers and other appliances.

Generators have also been fired up, although they supply only part of the complex's needs.

Last week, the nationwide savings target was doubled to 10 per cent and the Government imposed a 15 per cent target on the state sector.

Yesterday, Speaker Jonathan Hunt and Parliamentary Service general manager Joel George said Parliament had met or exceeded the 15 per cent target daily for a fortnight.

But its latest power bill has still doubled because the complex gets its electricity from the highly volatile spot market.

Mr George said Parliament did not have a fixed-price contract with state-owned Meridian Energy, but one was now being sought.

Parliament's annual power bill - $1.5 million eight years ago - had been reduced by more efficient power use to about $900,000 last year.