Thumbscrews eased on power push

By CHRIS DANIELS energy writer

Cold showers and enforced candlelit dinners are now extremely unlikely, with the public "Target 10" power savings campaign officially wound up yesterday.

South Island rainfall topping up hydro lakes, combined with good weather forecasts and past savings, have prompted the Winter Power Taskforce to wind back its "riskmeter" and stop its advertising campaign.

Lake levels are now at 87 per cent of their average for this time of year.

While still "significantly less" than he would prefer, Winter Power Taskforce co-ordinator Patrick Strange said it was still a far cry from two months ago, when levels were just 61 per cent of average.

Cold weather has pushed the actual savings made by New Zealand homes and businesses to 5.5 per cent. Savings levels have steadily declined from a peak of over 10 per cent early this month.

Mr Strange, speaking at the offices of an Auckland advertising agency and surrounded by power-savings posters drawn by New Zealand schoolchildren, said the taskforce had been surprised and delighted at the positive public reaction to the savings campaign.

He said a close analysis of thermal fuel stocks, such as gas, coal and distillate (a kerosene-type fuel used in power stations) showed there was enough fuel available to generate electricity in the event of a dry spring.

"Although winter still has a few months to run and we are certainly not yet in a normal situation, the crisis period is behind us. However, we are not out of the woods yet."

Savings incentive programmes established by the big power companies would continue, he said.

Businesses and local authorities were still being asked that wherever possible they maintain public-area lighting reductions and similar programmes for at least another month.

Government plans to establish an Electricity Commission are still proceeding, with dry-year planning to be one of its main jobs.

The commission will contract with power generators for special dry-year reserve that will be called upon only in circumstances similar to this year's.

Exact details of this reserve have yet to be worked out, but the cost could be up to half a cent extra on each kilowatt hour of electricity used by consumers.

The average New Zealand household uses around 8000 kilowatt hours of electricity a year.

But Energy Minister Pete Hodgson says he expects the cost to be "well under" half a cent per unit.

Consumers should keep up some of the simple habits that had led to the power savings, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority said yesterday.

Acting chief executive John Boyd said people had two incentives to continue to save - first, the chance of power shortages could not absolutely be ruled out in the future and, second, that they would be better off financially.