Electricity security of supply confidence

16 February 2007

Central Canterbury electricity distribution company Orion New Zealand Limited supports the good work being undertaken by Transpower and electricity distribution companies to maintain secure electricity supply in the South Island. Orion CEO Roger Sutton says that while growth in demand always presents challenges, the upgrades that Transpower is implementing will keep electricity delivery secure and will maintain Canterbury’s excellent record of electricity reliability.

“I’m confident that the lights will stay on as reliably in Canterbury over the next 10 years as they have over the past decade. It’s important that the public and businesses know of the good work being undertaken in our region so that they are confident about their electricity supply. For its part, Orion will invest around $300m in its own network in the next decade to meet expected growth and to maintain security”, said Mr Sutton.

Orion also welcomes the Electricity Commission’s decision to require major South Island generators to pay for the costs of the HVDC inter-island transmission link. “The major beneficiaries of the HVDC link are the South Island electricity generators. If they don’t pay the costs, the consumers in the South Island will potentially pay more”, said Mr Sutton.

For more information, contact:

Roger Sutton
Chief Executive Officer
03 363 9846
Mobile 027 4333 632