New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS), which owns and operates the smelter, will reduce its electricity usage by a total of 100MW from early August — about half the amount of energy used to power Hawke’s Bay at this time of year.
As part of new electricity supply agreements for the smelter, that came into effect earlier this month, the power company can request the smelter ramp down energy use to meet generation demands.
In a statement, NZAS chief executive Chris Blenkiron said Tiwai had already taken off 50 MW in response to a call from Meridian earlier in July.
It would now start to reduce by a further 50 MW.
"We recognise the responsibility we have as a large electricity user, to ease stress on the electricity system when asked to do so.
"As essentially New Zealand’s largest battery, we have a unique ability to do this rapidly," Mr Blenkiron said.
The reduction will last until November.
