LACK OF RAIN HITS COBB POWER STATION OUTPUT
30 May 2008
A continued lack of rain has seen the level of the Cobb Reservoir in Golden Bay fall to its minimum operating height.
TrustPower spokesman Graeme Purches said the Cobb power station was only running a few hours a day to meet peak electricity demand in the region.
"We can only generate enough electricity to match the level of water that's coming in (from the Cobb River). We're trying to generate enough to keep the lights on," he said.
Asked whether the problem could lead to power cuts in the region, Mr Purches said: "It's a national problem and we're working together to try to avoid power cuts."
He said the Cobb Lake was in the same situation as every other hydro lake in the South Island. More rain was needed throughout the country.
If the level in the Cobb falls to 794m above sea level, the dam has to stop generating electricity under the terms of its resource consent. Mr Purches said the water level was being held just above this level to enable it to generate power. "We're holding it at that level and we won't let it drop any further. You can't generate with water that's not there."
A lack of rain also caused problems for the Cobb station in 2001, 2003 and 2006, he said.
© 2008 Fairfax New Zealand Limited.
The Nelson Mail
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