Storms bring rain to hydro lakes

Wild weather experienced throughout much of New Zealand yesterday brought much needed rain to southern hydro-storage lakes.

The lakes are significantly below their average levels for this time of year raising the prospect of power price rises in winter if there is insufficient water to generate enough power to meet demand.

But Meridian Energy spokesman Gerald Raymond today said heavy rain in the south had boosted lake levels.

Lake Manapouri near Te Anau had gone from 35-40 per cent full last week to about 66 per cent full after heavy rain the past 24 hours.

In Otago, Lake Tekapo's water level had been boosted by about 200mm, lifting it from 49 per cent full to 53 per cent full.

Lake Pukaki's water level had been boosted by 150mm, pushing it from 24 per cent to 26 per cent full.

Together, the two Otago lakes account for 55 per cent of the country's hydro storage.

Mr Raymond said although the rain was good news there was still some way to go.

"Any boost is good, but as you can see from the figures we need quite a bit more," he told NZPA.

MetService forecaster Mark Pascoe today said there was a possibility that there would be "significant spill-over" from heavy rain forecast for the West Coast side of the Southern Alps into the Otago headwaters.

- NZPA