Council approves energy saving initiatives
The Greater Wellington Regional Council today agreed on a number of electricity savings initiatives which could reduce
its total power consumption by up to 50%.
Greater Wellington Regional Council chairperson Margaret Shields says with the government requesting the state sector
reduce electricity consumption by 15% in order to prevent a power crisis, Greater Wellington will do what it can.
“Greater Wellington Regional Council helped out in the 2001 electricity shortage and we are pleased to once again be
able to assist in the energy crisis. We will be doing this by using standby generators at our main water treatment
plants and switching our water supply to a treatment plant that is more energy efficient.”
About 95 percent of the electricity used directly by the Council, is used for wholesale water supply treatment and
distribution.
The council is entering into an agreement with energy supplier Genesis Power to operate standby generators at its water
treatment plants in Waterloo, Te Marua and Wainuiomata. Genesis Power will request the times during which all the diesel
equipment will operate, but it is likely to be between 6am and 7pm.
The standby generators use diesel motors instead of electricity and could help save up to 30% on Greater Wellington’s
power consumption. Genesis Power has submitted a proposal to reimburse the council for the extra costs to operate the
diesel equipment.
Greater Wellington is also looking at minimising electricity consumption by switching production from the Waterloo
treatment plant to the Te Marua and Wainuiomata plants, which use less power. This could save up to 22% of Greater
Wellington’s energy consumption but will increase its overall operating costs, largely due to higher chemical costs.
Another power saving initiative Greater Wellington is considering is asking Stagecoach to replace trolley buses in the
evenings with diesel buses which would reduce Stagecoach’s power usage by an estimated 12%.