Upper South Island Leading the Powersavers

Media release

27 June 2008

Upper South Island Leading the Powersavers

For the week to Friday 27 June, the upper South Island remains the leading powersavers region, achieving savings of 4.1% compared to the same week in 2007.

According to Patrick Strange, convenor of the Winter Power Group and Chief Executive of Transpower, who is leading the winter power savings campaign on behalf of the electricity industry, “the overall national savings of 3.6% for the week to Friday 27 June is a solid increase on the figures reported on Tuesday 24 June”.

In other results, the upper North Island region saved 3.6%, the central North Island region saved 3.3%, the lower North Island region saved 3.8%, and the lower South Island region saved 3.2%. He noted that “the savings exclude major industrial savings, which are in excess of 2%.

“There has been some inflow to the lakes this week up and down the country so the storage over the week has remained stable. However, the lakes are still much lower than we would like for this time of year. Because of all of the efforts being made by consumers and industry we are making good progress in terms of getting through the winter – but we certainly are not yet through it. The highest demand period is still ahead of us”

Eight out of ten people say they are making an effort to cut back on their power use this winter, according to recent figures from a Fairfax Media poll on the Powersavers campaign being undertaken by the electricity industry. The research also says that nine out of ten people had heard the powersaving message.

Electricity usage for each region is being compared on a week to week basis, to results from the corresponding week in 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.

People can monitor the regional savings results every Tuesday and Friday at www.powersavers.co.nz .The website also updates on a daily basis such key data as lake storage levels, inflows, usage and peak demand, as well as providing a wealth of energy savings tips from experts and the general public.

ENDS

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