Electricity Generation Continues To Increase

New Zealand Energy Statistics: June 2002 quarter

3 September 2002

Electricity Generation Continues To Increase

Total electricity generation, after adjusting for seasonal variations, increased 1.3 percent in the June 2002 quarter compared with the March 2002 quarter, according to Statistics New Zealand. Hydro generation accounted for 57 percent of the electricity generated in the June 2002 quarter. This compares with a June quarter average of 66 percent over the previous 10 years.

Commercial electricity users experienced a price decrease of 1.5 percent in the June 2002 quarter compared with the March 2002 quarter, but prices were 6.2 percent higher compared with the June 2001 quarter. Prices for household consumers rose 1.9 percent in the June 2002 quarter compared with the March 2002 quarter, and were 4.5 percent higher compared with the June 2001 quarter.

Gas production increased to 258,000 terajoules in the year ended June 2002, a rise of 3.1 percent compared with the year ended June 2001. Gas is a leading source of thermal energy for electricity generation.

Natural gas prices rose 0.4 percent for commercial users, and 0.7 percent for household consumers in the June 2002 quarter compared with the March 2002 quarter. Compared with the June 2001 quarter, commercial gas prices were 4.7 percent higher in the June 2002 quarter, while prices for household consumers were 5.4 percent higher.

Production of crude petroleum was 1.1 million tonnes in the year ended June 2002, a fall of 8.6 percent compared with the year ended June 2001. The volume of crude petroleum produced was 41.3 percent lower than in the year ended June 1994, when production peaked at 1.9 million tonnes.

The price of bulk petrol for commercial users rose 6.9 percent in the June 2002 quarter compared with the March 2002 quarter, and was 0.4 percent higher when compared with the June 2001 quarter. The price of bulk diesel was 6.3 percent higher in the June 2002 quarter than in the March 2002 quarter, but 4.2 percent lower than in the June 2001 quarter.

Retail petrol prices rose 10.0 percent in the June 2002 quarter compared with the March 2002 quarter, but were 3.9 percent lower compared with the June 2001 quarter. Retail prices for alternative motor fuels (diesel and LPG) in the June 2002 quarter were 8.0 percent higher than in the March 2002 quarter, but 7.9 percent lower than in the June 2001 quarter.

Brian Pink Government Statistician END

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