So there IS a power crisis after all

National's Energy spokesman, Gerry Brownlee, says he hopes Labour's belated admission that there is a power crisis has not come too late.

"Why has it taken so long for Labour to act?

"By blithely ignoring warnings of an impending crisis and waiting this long to move, David Parker and Helen Clark have increased the risk of power cuts.

"Their lack of action in the face of overwhelming evidence that has been blindingly obvious to the rest of us is nothing short of negligent.

"They have ignored warnings for weeks, including from major industrial users who were saying we are in a 'riskier situation than in any prior crisis' – even worse than in the 2003 crisis.

"Leading up to that crisis, a power savings campaign started in April even though lake levels were around 65% of average, and the campaign continued even when levels were up to 78% by the end of May.

"But this year, David Parker and Helen Clark have waited until levels are at 52% before doing anything.

"No one should be in any doubt why they've waited so long – it's election year.

"But what price are Kiwis going to pay for their cynical lack of action?

"I just hope the savings campaign hasn't come too late to avoid cuts.

"Labour has failed at every turn. They have failed to reform the Resource Management Act, to build capacity to ensure there is enough power for dry years, and to move on a conservation programme until it's almost too late.

"Kiwis will be hoping it's not."