4. GERRY BROWNLEE (National—Ilam) Link to this
to the Minister of Energy
Is he confident that New Zealand will get through this winter without a repeat of the electricity crises seen in 1992 and 2003?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN (Acting Minister of Energy) Link to this
As confident as one could possibly be.
Can the Minister confirm that the 30-day rolling average for water storage inflows shows that April 2007 was worse than April 2002—almost as bad as April 1992—and that the Meteorological Service is predicting La Niña weather patterns, meaning little rain and much less supply of hydroelectricity this winter?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
It is certainly true that the inflows over the last 2 or 3 months have been below average, but they started from a much stronger level at the end of the year. Actual lake storage levels at the moment are not much below the average for a normal year.
Maryan StreetHon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I have received reports of significant progress on the new, more efficient E3P plant at Huntly. That, of course, will give us much greater thermal reserve capacity this winter than we have had previously. Of course, the National Party opposed the agreement between shareholding Ministers and Genesis that enabled E3P to be constructed.
Can he confirm that security of supply for 2007 will depend on the successful commissioning of E3P at Huntly, with the consequence that not only the Huntly coal-fired station but also the new gas turbine will run at full capacity; does he expect that this year thermal generation will beat last year’s record year for thermal generation; and how does that fit with the Government’s carbon dioxide emissions strategy for carbon neutrality?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
If the member thinks he can predict rainfall for the next few months, good on him. Predictions of long-term rainfall measures are often wrong. If there is sufficient rain, then that will not happen; if rainfall levels remain low, we now have much larger reserve capacity, thanks to the decisions taken by this Government. But I do note that the status of the official risk meter put out by the Electricity Commission on 6 May—the latest—is still at low.
Why have so many renewable energy projects fallen over in the last 7 years; of all the new generation that has come on stream over the last 7 years, how much is renewable and how much is thermal; and if he is able to give us an accurate answer, how has that particular statistic helped the Government think it can get to carbon neutrality?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I do not have that statistic. However, the member is incorrect in his assertion. The main renewable project that fell over was Project Aqua, and it was actually opposed by the local National Party candidate.
Peter BrownIn the event that a crisis situation does appear on the horizon, can the Minister give the House an assurance that, in the first instance, the Minister would call for, in ample time, voluntary restraint, so that New Zealanders could save of their own accord, and, in the second instance, if the situation worsened, would go to some lengths to provide financial incentives to encourage people to reduce their power usage?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
Obviously, we monitor the situation. In fact, Cabinet continues to receive a report on both inflows and the reserve capacity on a weekly basis. It is far too early at this point to consider whether there is any risk of a serious crisis. The problem is, of course, that if we call wolf too early and nothing happens, then the next time we call wolf people will take no notice, so it is a matter of judgment. I emphasise again that the Electricity Commission has the risk meter at low at the present time. Mr Brownlee thinks he knows more than the Electricity Commission; I think that is something only Mr Brownlee believes.
We will see. Can the Minister confirm that the Waitaki catchment now holds only 68 percent of its historical average for this time of year, and that that level has dropped more than 25 percent in the last month, putting us now within 500 gigawatt hours of the operational minzone, at which point this country will face blackouts?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
I can confirm that storage levels are below average for the time of year, but, at the present time, not by the kind of margin across the entire system that the member is implying. There is not a serious risk at this point. I emphasise again that compared with last year the major difference, of course, is that E3P is coming on stream very soon, and is a very significant addition to power capacity.
Has the Minister seen the Transpower website entitled Grid New Zealand, which is an easily accessible information tool telling us about Transpower’s projects, both those in construction and those that are held up; if so, would he consider putting up on the website of the Government’s Electricity Commission a site perhaps called “Gridlock New Zealand” in honour of the commission’s delayed backlog of decisions, which has meant that renewable energy has not developed in this country at the level it should have over the last 7 years?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The member seems to have shifted from the Electricity Commission to Transpower in that question, and they are two completely different bodies. If the member is referring to—
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. Can I read the question again? The Minister clearly did not hear it.
Madam SPEAKERHas he noted that anyone can go to the Transpower website called Grid New Zealand and see a list of projects held up by the Electricity Commission; if so, will he consider putting up on the Electricity Commission website a page called “Gridlock New Zealand” in honour of its backlog of decisions, which has contributed to a very, very low level of renewable energy being developed in this country over the last 7 years?
Hon Dr MICHAEL CULLEN Link to this
The Electricity Commission is not holding up renewable energy projects, at all. There are difficulties at times with the planning process. I have yet to hear from the MP for Otago whether she supports the major wind power projects in Otago—there are a number of them—at the present time. I suspect she does not. I note that the major opposition to the upgrade of the North Island transmission line was, in fact, led by Judith Collins and Paul Hutchison.
I raise a point of order, Madam Speaker. My point of order is to indicate that the Minister has misled the House again today. Jacqui Dean was, in fact, on the local authority that voted for Project Aqua, but the then member for Otago, David Parker, voted strongly against it.