Crisis Debate “Tragic”

Debate this week over the extent or closeness of the electricity crises has been tragic, and will simply bring the country closer to blackouts, according to the Major Electricity Users Group (MEUG).

Terrence Currie, Chairman of MEUG, said high electricity prices and the curtailment of industrial production were firm proof that a major crisis really did exist.

The debate itself has undermined the conservation effort by sewing seeds of doubt.

“New Zealand is in code red in terms of damage to the economy and code amber in terms of electricity supply.

“The economy is in code red because the country is losing millions of dollars daily through cuts to production – predominantly exports.

“We’re code amber in terms of supply because hydro inflows are fragile, no one can guarantee when it will rain, and our conservation measures are not enough Yet.

“ “The only way suggested to date of getting through this crisis is by taking conservation measures And major users are certainly playing their part in reducing demand.

“The consequences of taking a punt on the weather and the calculations of one analyst is too dangerous to contemplate,” Mr Currie said.

Mr Currie said that for the good of New Zealand, everyone had to make a very real effort to save electricity. The understandable cynicism of consumers against the electricity industry needs to be set aside.

“If each of us doesn’t take personal action, then we will end up with a full blown crisis.

ends

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