Electricity Commission jeopardising generation plans - Orion

Orion, 87.6 per cent owned by Christchurch ratepayers through Christchurch City Holdings Ltd, intends to establish a 35 megawatt (MW) diesel network to supply power to the national grid in dry years and help meet winter peak loads in the region. The project is worth more than $30 million.

The network operator has already spent close to $200,000 on planning work and on securing resource consents to operate generators at two locations, Bromley's Transpower substation and Belfast's PPCS meat processing site.

Orion and other lines companies were encouraged to move into the generation business after last winter's power crisis, when the Government released a package of measures designed to secure extra supply and avert future shortages.

But in an apparent Governmental about-face, the commission says it may not even call for bids to supply reserve generation for 2005.

Orion chief executive Roger Sutton said if that turned out to be the case, it would probably not be financially viable to proceed with the plans.

"To some extent, the calls from Wellington have changed from 'we have got to have some new generation' to 'gee, it might be nice to have something new'."

The Government's intention last year was it would underwrite generation by lines companies and also pay for fuel and maintenance costs through the levy being placed on national electricity prices, and being paid for by consumers.

Commission chairman Roy Hemmingway said a decision on whether to offer contracts to lines companies for reserve generation had not been made yet.

"We would expect Orion would be putting in a bid with respect to supply generation if that is needed. But it might not be for 2005 reserve generation."

The country was in a reasonably good position for extra generation at present, with the Government's dry-year reserve power station at Whirinaki complete and now being tested, and additional fuel supplies available if needed at Genesis Energy's Huntly thermal power station, he said.

The southern hydro-lakes were also pleasingly full as the country moved into the high demand time of the year.

Mr. Hemmingway said even if the commission decided not to call for bids, Orion could still use its proposed grid to meet local short-term peak loads.

But Mr Sutton said a lack of a dry-year contract would mean a major re-think for the whole proposal.

"The economics don't stack up without reserve generation. We need to get a contract."

Orion had wanted to make a nationwide contribution in proportion to its size.

The plan had been before the commission for a couple of months.