Smelter to reduce electricity demand as lake levels dip

Smelter to reduce electricity demand as lake levels dip
The levels of the southern hydro lakes are falling. (Image: NZME)
Ian Llewellyn
Meridian Energy has called on the Tiwai Pt aluminium smelter to reduce its electricity demand as southern hydro lake levels continue to fall.An agreement between the generator and the country’s largest electricity consumer allows Meridian to issue a demand response exercise notice to the smelter’s owner, New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, once certain conditions are reached.As a result, contract quantity under the parties' electricity agreement will reduce by 25 megawatt hours (MWh) per half hour from June 22 until Aug  20, un...

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