Post by bingbong on Aug 15, 2008 20:12:40 GMT 12
SI hydro lake levels slipping but power cuts unlikely
South Canterbury | Friday, 15 August 2008
THE South Island's hydro lakes are getting low with less than a third of the water for electricity generation they normally have in winter.
However, on-going rain in the North Island has lessened the risk of electricity shortages nationally.
While lakes Pukaki and Tekapo are low, Meridian Energy's operating consents allow the lakes to be drained about another three metres.
Meridian says the situation is under control, but inflows are below average and the key South Island hydro storage lakes are getting low. The power generator is asking its customers to use power wisely.
Lake Pukaki is at 24 per cent of average for this time of year and Tekapo is at 33 per cent.
Together the two lakes hold about 50 per cent of the country's stored hydro generation.
The hydro systems running off lakes Te Anau and Manapouri do not have much storage, but due to typically heavy rain they produce a lot of energy.
This winter they are not getting the rain and the lakes are both around 30 per cent of average for winter.
In the North Island, heavy rain has national inflows running at 10 per cent more than average.
The heart of the Waikato River system, Lake Taupo, is close to its maximum operating level.
Transpower chief executive Patrick Strange said due to North Island rain, the price of wholesale electricity was falling, but there was a limit to how much power could be moved across Cook Strait.
He said the South Island's store of potential hydro electricity was 45 per cent of normal.
"That's average for this time of year so that's very low."
Nationally hydro storage is 70 per cent of normal.
Mr Strange did not expect a South Island shortage, but said the south was on the minzone and power was being "imported" from the North Island.
Meridian spokesperson Claire Shaw said inflows were below average in the Manapouri and Te Anau and Waitaki catchments and recent cold weather had increased demand.
"We're managing the situation and operating as cautiously and responsibly as we can."
Ms Shaw was confident Meridian had enough stored water to get through to spring.
NIWA's outlook for July to September is that rainfall in the South Island is predicted to be mostly near normal, but stream flows and soil moisture will be average or below average in the east of the country.
South Canterbury | Friday, 15 August 2008
THE South Island's hydro lakes are getting low with less than a third of the water for electricity generation they normally have in winter.
However, on-going rain in the North Island has lessened the risk of electricity shortages nationally.
While lakes Pukaki and Tekapo are low, Meridian Energy's operating consents allow the lakes to be drained about another three metres.
Meridian says the situation is under control, but inflows are below average and the key South Island hydro storage lakes are getting low. The power generator is asking its customers to use power wisely.
Lake Pukaki is at 24 per cent of average for this time of year and Tekapo is at 33 per cent.
Together the two lakes hold about 50 per cent of the country's stored hydro generation.
The hydro systems running off lakes Te Anau and Manapouri do not have much storage, but due to typically heavy rain they produce a lot of energy.
This winter they are not getting the rain and the lakes are both around 30 per cent of average for winter.
In the North Island, heavy rain has national inflows running at 10 per cent more than average.
The heart of the Waikato River system, Lake Taupo, is close to its maximum operating level.
Transpower chief executive Patrick Strange said due to North Island rain, the price of wholesale electricity was falling, but there was a limit to how much power could be moved across Cook Strait.
He said the South Island's store of potential hydro electricity was 45 per cent of normal.
"That's average for this time of year so that's very low."
Nationally hydro storage is 70 per cent of normal.
Mr Strange did not expect a South Island shortage, but said the south was on the minzone and power was being "imported" from the North Island.
Meridian spokesperson Claire Shaw said inflows were below average in the Manapouri and Te Anau and Waitaki catchments and recent cold weather had increased demand.
"We're managing the situation and operating as cautiously and responsibly as we can."
Ms Shaw was confident Meridian had enough stored water to get through to spring.
NIWA's outlook for July to September is that rainfall in the South Island is predicted to be mostly near normal, but stream flows and soil moisture will be average or below average in the east of the country.
