Forum Archive Index - May 2004

["Gavin Treadgold" <gav@rediguana.co.nz>]

I haven't yet seen anyone make the point that the current distribution
system is flawed, and that the answer lies in downsizing and distributing
the generating capacity further. Rather, to everyone it seems that the issue
is one of capacity - build more of it. But by just adding capacity, the
system is still inefficient - look at the estimated 25% tranmission loss
that occurs with getting the hydro power up to Auckland. As a mainlander, I
wish we would get our differential back so that the Aucklanders would be
forced to consider their power options more carefully.

Taken to the ultimate conclusion, homes and workplaces will become more
efficient, and produce significant amounts of their own power and will have
less reliance on the traditional generation and distribution networks. I
believe this is the case with solar and wind power - they can't necessarily
provide power for a city or large town, but they can for a neighbourhood or
two.

Long term, but I hope it starts to occur sooner rather than later, we will
have to move towards generating power much closer to where it is used to
make better use of what we've got. I imagine our power problems would be
significantly less if we reduced the overall amount of power lost to
transmission.

Cheers Gav



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