Power users getting the message

By STAFF REPORTERS

New Zealanders managed to make power savings of 6.8 per cent on Thursday - the upper South Island saving more than 10 per cent.

Aucklanders and Northlanders saved just over 6 per cent, Waikato 5 per cent and those in the lower North Island around 7 per cent. The lower South Island saved just under 6 per cent.

The amount of water stored in the hydro lakes continued to drop. The two most important - Tekapo and Pukaki - were just 34 per cent and 40 per cent full respectively.

These two lakes account for almost 55 per cent of all New Zealand's hydro storage capacity.

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson is due to meet representatives of the electricity industry and consumer groups on Monday to discuss the power crisis.

He warned yesterday that recent weather conditions should not be taken as a sign that there was no need for power conservation.

"Recent rain in the South Island is welcome but it increases hydro storage by a little less than a day's worth of electricity consumption," he said. "We are still looking down the barrel of a supply crisis if lake inflows stay low and we do not save power. It will take more than a few days of rain to turn this situation around."

Mr Hodgson last weekend asked for power savings of 10 per cent for the next 10 weeks - otherwise power blackouts are likely.

Long-term generation prospects were boosted yesterday when a $400 million extension to Huntly Power Station was given the go-ahead.

Genesis Power's combined-cycle gas turbine power station will generate 400 megawatts of electricity alongside the existing gas and coal plant, producing a combined 1400MW.

It will create 200 to 300 jobs during construction and up to 20 permanent jobs when the plant opens in 2005.

General manager Vincent Hawksworth said the upgrade would meet a growing demand for electricity in Hamilton and the upper North Island and would be ready for the next major predicted shortage in 2005.

Mr Hawksworth said electricity demand was expected to grow at 1.8 per cent a year, or about 100MW.

He said the new plant would be 50 per cent more efficient than the existing one and would discharge 40 per cent less carbon dioxide.

Environment Waikato granted a 25-year air discharge consent and a consent until 2013 for taking and discharging Waikato River cooling water.

The carbon dioxide emissions for the new and existing plant would be capped at 4.6 megatonnes a year.

The existing plant's resource consent had no restrictions on its emissions and its coal fuel alone could produce 8.6 megatonnes a year.

The carbon dioxide emissions cap would last until 2010 and would then have no restrictions.

Genesis Power says it will use the new plant before the existing station to lower emissions.

The consents for the intake and discharge into the Waikato River will also expire in 2013, to coincide with the existing plant.

Feature: Electricity

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority