Tia Maria
15th April 2008, 12:19 PM
Hopefully all this rain will lessen the likelihood of power cuts this year. Although we've been here 2 years and had power cuts in Auckland both years.
Transpower will step up moves to have big electricity users cut back if there is no significant rain in hydro catchments within a fortnight.
Anxiety over falling hydro lake levels prompted the national grid operator yesterday to announce intensified contingency planning to avoid power shortages this winter.
Inflows to hydro lakes this autumn are below those of 1992 when a power crisis resulted in hot water heating being cut and sweeping voluntary savings.
Although the lakes could fill to average levels after just days of heavy rain, with winter nearing the supply position is becoming more critical.
Transpower says if the rain does not come, in the first instance businesses would be offered financial incentives to cut use and as "a last resort" an energy conservation campaign launched.
Big users would be paid spot prices for power for selling back electricity into the system if they were able to cut production or move it away from peak times.
Such measures could be put on standby by the end of the month if there was no significant rain in hydro catchment areas, Transpower says.
Full article here:
www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10504144
Cheers
Tia
Transpower will step up moves to have big electricity users cut back if there is no significant rain in hydro catchments within a fortnight.
Anxiety over falling hydro lake levels prompted the national grid operator yesterday to announce intensified contingency planning to avoid power shortages this winter.
Inflows to hydro lakes this autumn are below those of 1992 when a power crisis resulted in hot water heating being cut and sweeping voluntary savings.
Although the lakes could fill to average levels after just days of heavy rain, with winter nearing the supply position is becoming more critical.
Transpower says if the rain does not come, in the first instance businesses would be offered financial incentives to cut use and as "a last resort" an energy conservation campaign launched.
Big users would be paid spot prices for power for selling back electricity into the system if they were able to cut production or move it away from peak times.
Such measures could be put on standby by the end of the month if there was no significant rain in hydro catchment areas, Transpower says.
Full article here:
www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3/story.cfm?c_id=3&objectid=10504144
Cheers
Tia