Call to save Ruapehu electricity

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 439, 9 June 1992, Page 1

Call to save Ruapehu electricity

King Country Energy are asking their customers to save power, to avert having to make power cuts. King Country Energy normally generates a third of its own electricity, but the Kuratau and Piriaka power stations have both been affected by lack of rain in past months. Rain on the weekend helped raise Kuratau Lake and Lake Taupo but the over all situation is still dominated by the Southern Lakes' lack of water. "If rain does not come soon to the South Island, then more drastic conservation methods may be required nation-wide, and we will be just as badly affected in this area as elsewhere," said KCE general manager Peter Till. "We would very much like our customers to cut their power consumption," said Mr Till. "Things like showering for hygiene rather than comfort - two minutes rather than a quarter of an hour." Turnpage2

Ruapehu electricity

Frompagel He said domestic consumers can save by tuming off lights in empty rooms, washing clothes with cold water, heating just one room, tuming off tv's, computers and other appliances when not in use, fitting hot water cylinder wraps, fitting mini lights (long life bulbs). Commercial users have been asked to save in similar ways, and to turn off display signage lights etc. Ruapehu's ski fields have been asked to switch to diesel to run their lifts, said Mr Till, to save their 10 per cent share. The power board can do little to save power without customer's efforts, said Mr Till. He said they have cut back on water heating a little. With agreement from the Ruapehu District Council they are tuming street lights on a little later and off a little earlier, he said.