Parker undermines power crisis response

David Parker is undermining the energy industry’s attempts to respond to the electricity crisis with his efforts to play down the seriousness of the situation, says National Party Energy spokesman Gerry Brownlee.

“How seriously will the public take any emergency savings campaign if the Minister says there’s nothing to worry about?

“On one hand you have the winter electricity group’s Patrick Strange saying the situation is keeping him awake at night, and on the other hand you have a Minister saying, crisis? What crisis?

“Just this morning Mr Strange was saying that for every towel rail that’s switched off, that’s a little bit less water drawn out of Pukaki. Yet only this morning, David Parker said people shouldn’t turn off their towel rails.

“The experts are saying one thing and David Parker’s saying another.

“The Minister still refuses to accept the seriousness of the situation. The major plank of his strategy has been to cross his fingers and hope for the best.”

Mr Brownlee says the public should ignore the Minister and embrace the power saving initiatives being promoted by the industry.

“During the 2001, and 2003 crises New Zealand was well into an emergency plan by this stage of the year and Kiwis were rising to the challenge of saving electricity.

“The Labour Government is cynically refusing to accept any responsibility for a major security of supply scare because it is election year. Labour has completely failed in its nine years to future proof the industry and clearly they don’t want to be part of any future solution, when it appears the 1-in-60 dry year crises are occurring every few years.

“The only way we will get through is because we’re relying on a broken down Cook Strait cable, a retired plant in New Plymouth, and the diesel guzzling emergency generator at Whirinaki.

“Energy Minister David Parker doesn’t wasn’t to deal with any of this stuff, so the public should ignore him and save what they can.”

ENDS

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