By Xinhua,
Wellington : The New Zealand cabinet on Monday will consider measures to save electricity as low hydro lake levels threaten power cuts.
Energy Minister David Parker said a general conservation campaign urging people to save power was prepared and ready to run, the New Zealand Press Association reported.
Several other measures aimed at creating savings had already been implemented and others were being considered as lake levels sat at about 50 percent of their average for early June.
Electricity Commission Chairman David Caygill on Sunday warned power cuts were possible and he urged people to be “prudent” in their use of electricity.
He said cuts would likely be made by shutting down hot water cylinders through the ripple control system.
However, Parker said predictions of blackouts would be proved wrong.
“Predictions by doomsayers that the lights are expected to go out as a result of low lake levels are wrong,” he said.
Two weeks ago he predicted that without further rain or other remedial measures, a campaign was likely to be required in around three weeks.
That time frame remained correct and further decisions on that could be expected this week, he said.