‘Powersaver’ Results

17 June 2008

‘Powersaver’ Results

“People should be thanked for making an effort to contribute to the Powersavers’ campaign; they are making a difference” said Patrick Strange, Winter Power Group convener and Chief Executive of Transpower, who is leading the winter power savings campaign on behalf of the electricity industry.

Results from consumer efforts to reduce electricity usage will be published twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays. Figures will be broken down for five regional areas throughout the country (which reflect the regional areas for which data is collected by the Transpower System Operator).

Electricity usage for each region will be compared on a week to week basis, to the corresponding week in 2007. For the first report, as attached, results are shown for the seven days through Monday 16 June 2008, compared to the seven days through Monday 16 June 2007. Adjustments have been made for temperature, demand growth, and other factors that need to be ‘normalised’ in order to provide a more accurate comparison. Regional figures will be published on the www.powersavers.co.nz website.

“We are seeing savings at a national level of about 1.9% currently. This is an estimate only and the reported savings for individual regions are less accurate, and may vary from report to report. The estimated savings do not include reductions made by very large users, such as the smelter at Tiwai. We believe that these industrial reductions will be contributing an equal amount to the overall effort.

“At this stage we are encouraging all New Zealanders to play their part in comfortably reducing their power use - switching off lights or appliances that they aren’t using, or choosing an alternative activity which uses less electricity. “While the recent rain in the south island lakes was welcome, we do need more rain and prudent savings before we can say we are safely through the winter. I hope everyone continues to make an effort and understands that they are making a difference. “

ENDS

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