Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
Brownlee Gerry: Questions for Oral Answer — Questions to Ministers 
[Volume:608;Page:5687] 
5.  
GERRY BROWNLEE (NZ National—Ilam) 
 to the  
Minister of Energy 
: What is his response to the comments made recently by the head of the Winter Power Task Force that cutting hot water in households for up to 18 hours a day was being considered—which would mean people having to take cold showers—and he could not rule out pensioner homes being treated the same as other houses? 
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Energy) 
: 
 My response is that that is a very good reason for New Zealanders to save power now and help to avoid the need for hot-water cuts. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Has he seen any reports indicating that due to the contractual arrangements with its half a million - plus customers Vector the country’s largest lines company cannot cut hot water heating for more than 5 hours a day meaning that Auckland electricity consumers will continue to have hot showers while the rest of the country goes cold? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: Dr Patrick Strange of the Winter Power Task Force advises that he is confident that should it be necessary to go to hot-water cuts there will be a national protocol in place that shares the burden fairly. 
Mark Peck 
: How much would hot-water cuts contribute towards the 10 percent power savings target? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I am advised that cutting hot water for 18 hours a day would reduce electricity consumption nationwide by about 3 or 4 percent a saving that could readily be achieved by voluntary measures. 
Peter Brown 
: Noting those answers and the answers to similar questions yesterday is the Minister telling the House that despite our having millions of tonnes of coal his preference is to export that coal to nations that largely ignore the Kyoto Protocol and that New Zealanders should potentially suffer power cuts and cold showers; is that what he is telling us? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: It is a matter of fact that New Zealand’s largest generator is being fuelled today almost entirely by coal and that the constraint on that company is how to mine it fast enough. 
Jeanette Fitzsimons 
: Before consigning pensioners to cold showers has the Minister investigated the net economic cost to New Zealand of Colmalco shutting one of its three potlines and thus saving half our national target in one go and could we afford to buy that electricity cost effectively for the nation at a price that would still see Colmalco better off? [ 
Interruption 
] 
Mr SPEAKER 
: I do not want to warn any more members about interjecting during question time. 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: If that were to happen it would be a matter of commercial negotiation and therefore I am afraid must be wrapped in the confidentiality attending that. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Given the contractual arrangements that Vector has with its half a million - plus customers that would prevent it from cutting water heating or introducing power cuts of more than 5 hours a day how can he assure all New Zealanders that if 18-hour power cuts to hot-water heating are called for Auckland households will not be exempt? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: That is the question I placed to Dr Strange who advised me that he is confident that should it be necessary to have hot-water cuts a national protocol will be in place that shares the burden fairly. Currently Dr Strange is holding a press conference where he says that the new regional data that are out show that Auckland has now closed the gap. I congratulate Aucklanders accordingly. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Does having a national protocol in place mean that Vector will be relieved of any legal obligations it has and therefore will not be liable to court action from its consumers if it cuts the supply for more than 5 hours a day? 
Hon PETE HODGSON 
: I can do no more than advise the member what I have already advised him—that is I have put that question to Dr Strange and his advice is that he is confident that should it be necessary to go to hot-water cuts a national protocol will be in place that shares the burden fairly. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I have asked a question of this Minister of the Crown about matters that are extremely important in his portfolio area. He has given me this House and this country an answer that says he has taken his advice from Dr Patrick Strange. Dr Strange is heading the Winter Power Task Force as we all know which is a group that has no direct reporting to the Government whatsoever. What I am telling the Minister and what he should know is that the largest lines company in New Zealand cannot comply legally with a requirement should it brought to it— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: That is not a point of order. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: Yes it is. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: No would the member please be seated. That is not a point of order; it is a debating point. A general debate is coming up and there are other opportunities for the member to raise that subject by way of a question at another time. That is a debating point. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. In my third supplementary question I very clearly asked the Minister whether the so-called protocol he talked about will relieve that company of its legal obligations. Surely that then becomes a matter for the Minister. It is a matter that the ministry should be dealing with. 
Mr SPEAKER 
: The Minister did answer the question in my view. It may not have been satisfactory to anybody else but he answered the question. 
Gerry Brownlee 
: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. Should he not give us an answer that comes from his ministry? Referring us to an individual who has— 
Mr SPEAKER 
: Would the member please be seated. No the Minister has to address the question that is asked and he did each time.