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"Completely reliant on the weather": Calls for investment in "firmer" electricity sources

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 4 Jun 2025, 8:25am
Meridian Energy's hydro station at Lake Manapouri. Photo / Supplied
Meridian Energy's hydro station at Lake Manapouri. Photo / Supplied

"Completely reliant on the weather": Calls for investment in "firmer" electricity sources

Author
Newstalk ZB,
Publish Date
Wed, 4 Jun 2025, 8:25am

Concerns bad investment choices in electricity generation will keep our supply unreliable. 

Tiwai Point aluminium smelter is ramping up production reversing previous restrictions, to ease winter supply concerns. 

Meridian Energy says the hydro storage is looking much healthier this winter.  

Major Electricity Users' Group Chair John Harbord told Mike Hosking restrictions will likely be back in force next winter, without investment in firmer electricity supply like geothermal and hydro plants. 

He says solar panels only generate electricity 25% of the time and wind turbines only create energy 40% of the time. 

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