WINTER POWER TASKFORCE
19 June 2003
MEDIA RELEASE
Target 10 Averts Winter Power Shortages
The Winter Power Taskforce today announced an end to the Target 10 advertising campaign, but asked New Zealanders to
continue saving prudently for at least another month.
Co-ordinator Patrick Strange said the outlook for winter power supplies was now more comfortable, but still required
caution.
Most of the electricity retailers have introduced incentive programmes, which will encourage customers to continue to
save electricity. The Winter Power Taskforce is confident that with continued savings, led by these programmes, the
prospects of winter power shortages have been greatly reduced.
“Hydro lake levels are now at 87 per cent of average levels – still significantly less than we would prefer, but a far
cry from two months ago when lake levels were just 61 per cent of average,” said Dr Strange.
“Importantly, long range forecasts are for close to normal rainfall in the hydro catchments and this has been reinforced
by recent rainfall.”
“While the rain has been welcome, the hydro lake levels have also recovered because of the great effort by consumers
thus far in reducing power use. This has meant we have been able to conserve storage water.”
Finally, a close analysis of thermal fuel stocks (gas, coal and distillate) indicated there was sufficient fuel
available for electricity generation in the event that New Zealand did experience a dry spring, provided reasonable
savings were maintained.
“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, and we certainly don’t want all those lights coming back on,” said
Dr Strange.
“While we must still be cautious, the weather forecast is for normal rainfall over the next three months. Also, based
on past experience, we are counting on a significant level of savings to continue.“
“On this basis, we have wound back the electricity riskmeter another notch and ceased the Target 10 advertising
campaign.”
Dr Strange said New Zealanders’ response thus far to the call for electricity savings had been fantastic: “I know that
meeting the 10 per cent savings target required a big effort by the community.”
“The approach was to call for voluntary savings early in the winter to enable people to reduce electricity use before
the cold weather really hit.”
“In this case, every little bit has helped and we have seen the rate of savings climb steadily over six weeks.”
Dr Strange commended the major electricity retailers – Contact Energy, Genesis, Mercury Energy and Meridian - who had
put in place incentive programmes which reward customers through significant rebates or charitable donations for ongoing
savings.
“These incentive programmes will continue, helping to maintain energy savings by residential customers. We certainly
don’t want all those heaters turned up high.”
“Experience tells us that many businesses will also continue with their energy savings programmes as these have become
almost second nature to staff and provide ongoing cost savings by lowering power bills. Certainly, many businesses made
their savings efforts permanent after the formal end to the energy savings programme in 2001.”
“We have also contacted businesses and local authorities to ask that, wherever possible, they maintain public area
lighting reductions and similar programmes for at least one more month.”
Dr Strange said the Winter Power Taskforce would continue to monitor electricity demand, hydro lake levels, inflows and
thermal fuel stocks on behalf of the industry for the next couple of months. Savings and hydro storage levels will
continue to be updated daily on the taskforce’s website, www.winterpower.org.nz.
ENDS