Latest energy statistics from MED

Energy Minister Pete Hodgson has released the latest edition of the Ministry of Economic Development’s Energy Data File, a comprehensive biannual volume of energy statistics.

The January 2004 edition of the Energy Data File includes statistics on energy supply, demand and prices and shows that:

Total primary energy supply in the year to September 2003 declined by about 1 percent, due primarily to a 17 percent reduction in gas supply (mainly due to lower Maui gas production) and a 9 percent reduction in geothermal supply. This was partially offset by a 25 percent increase in coal supply, 9 percent increase in imports of oil and oil products, 9 percent increase in hydro and 5 percent increase in wood bioenergy.

Total final energy consumption for the same period increased by 7.7 percent. Oil consumption increased by about 7 percent and coal use (including exports) by 25 percent. This was partially offset by a reduction in gas use for electricity generation (including cogeneration) of about 10 percent and a reduction of about 35 percent in gas use for petrochemical production, primarily methanol production.

In real terms (March 2003 dollars) the national weighted average electricity price for the year to March 2003 was 10.8 cents a kilowatt-hour, an increase of about 5 percent compared with 2002. Again in real terms, average residential electricity prices (incl. GST) at 15.5 c/kWh were 4 percent higher than in 2002; average commercial electricity prices (excl. GST) at 10.8 c/kWh were nearly 6 percent higher; and average industrial electricity prices (excl. GST) at 7.2 c/kWh were about 8 percent higher.

"Energy Overview" from the Energy Data File January 2004 is available free at: http://www.med.govt.nz/ers/en_stats/edfonlin/edfjan2004/overview/

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