Meridian Energy

Federated Farmers is concerned having two competing electricity generators operating power stations on the Waitaki River could affect irrigation in North Otago and South Canterbury.

The three district councils bordering the Waitaki River oppose the Government's plan to force Meridian Energy to hand over its two Tekapo power stations to Genesis Energy, fearing it poses significant risk to their communities' futures.

Timaru still wants water from the Waitaki River as part of a new irrigation scheme costing up to $200 million and irrigating up to 40,000ha.

Meridian Energy is on target with its timetable for a new hydro-electricity scheme on the lower Waitaki River, but its board of directors still has to make the decision to build the $1 billion project.

South Island power generators are sick of paying for the Cook Strait cable, and Meridian Energy is operating stations below capacity to cut costs.

Meridian Energy says South Islanders will pay more for their electricity if the state-owned company is forced by the Government to sell two of its Waitaki hydro generation power stations.

Minister of Energy Gerry Brownlee is rejecting claims by Meridian Energy Ltd about the implications of forcing it to sell two Waitaki power stations to competitor Genesis Energy Ltd.

A private road used by the public as a scenic route from Tekapo to State Highway 8 remains closed after more than a year.

People used to dealing with the hydro generation issues of the Waitaki River are struggling to see how two competing power companies can work together to use the same resource wisely.

John and Susan Elliot say one consequence of the failed bid by Meridian Energy to build a wind farm in the Lammermoor Range is its impact on the local community - the continued existence of which now hangs in the balance.