Prebble cops flak for power crisis

The Government yesterday found a new person to blame for the looming power shortage - Richard Prebble, who hasn't been a minister for more than 12 years.

National continued to attack ministers over their refusal to accept responsibility for potential power cuts or enforced saving plans such as 18 hours of cold water a day.

The Government had in recent days blamed the weather, former electricity industry reformer Max Bradford and the electricity market.

Yesterday it was Trevor Mallard's turn to point the finger as he stood in for Energy Minister Pete Hodgson.

The latest scapegoats were Act leader Richard Prebble and National.

"Obviously the honourable Richard Prebble has had an enormous influence," Mr Mallard said in reply to a question about who he blamed for the problems.

Mr Prebble seemed pleased to have such long-lasting power, but National MPs took exception to their "whingeing" and lack of national spirit being blamed for the lack of savings to date.

National leader Bill English asked Mr Mallard to respond to a newspaper report quoting Becky Ashe of Mission Bay, who said: "I don't like the way this is all being blamed on the household consumer ...

"We did our bit last time - and that wasn't so long ago - so why is it happening again? I don't want to spend nights at home in a cold, dark house because of something that is not my fault."

Mr Mallard said the Government had not blamed the public and no one was asking people to suffer a dark, cold winter. "Savings can be made without such drastic measures."

Saving figures remained at 4.1 per cent on Wednesday, well below the 10 per cent voluntary domestic power savings target by the end of the month to avoid forced cuts.

Asked what would change the low level, Mr Mallard said the opposition should be giving more support and then said it was simple to save 10 per cent of power in a house.

"For example, people who turned off towel rails would on average save the 10 per cent with that alone ...

"If people turned off appliances at the wall they would with that one action save 5 per cent," Mr Mallard said.

A spokeswoman for the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority said usually up to 5 per cent could be saved by turning off towel rails. Some older large models might use up to 10 per cent of a household's power.

- NZPA