New Zealand:

Low Hydro Levels No Threat - Geothermal Energy More than makes Up the Difference (Radio New Zealand)

New Zealand electricity companies are cruising into winter relatively unfazed by low water levels in hydro lakes. Changes to the rules of the industry and heavy development of geothermal energy have given household electricity users a buffer against dry weather that they did not have in the past.

As much of New Zealand continues to enjoy an Indian summer, the dry conditions mean New Zealand's hydro lakes have only two-thirds of the water they usually have at this time. Not much water is flowing in to replenish them - only 70 percent of the seasonal average.

Official statistics show the boom in geothermal electricity is helping. In six years, more than $2 billion was invested in geothermal electricity, doubling its capacity to over 1000 megawatts. And since the earth's core is always hot, electricity can be constantly produced using geothermal tools, no matter what the weather.

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