Meridian Energy monthly operating report for August 2021

Meridian Energy Limited's monthly operating report for the month of August 2021 can be found here. 

Highlights this month include:

• In the month to 10 September 2021, national hydro storage increased from 103% to 126% of historical average
• South Island storage increased to 139% of average and North Island storage increased to 83% of average by 10 September 2021
• Meridian’s August 2021 monthly total inflows were 161% of historical average
• Meridian’s Waitaki catchment water storage at the end of August 2021 was 136% of historical average
• Water storage in Meridian’s Waiau catchment was above average at the end of August 2021
• Waitaki snow storage in early September 2021 was 118% of historical average
• National electricity demand in August 2021 was 0.3% lower than the same month last year. More stringent lockdowns were in place this August compared to August 2020
• August 2021 was another unseasonably warm month with temperatures above average for almost all the country. Rainfall was mixed, including above average totals in areas of the South Island
• Meridian made some calls under the Genesis swaption in August 2021 during the HVDC Pole 2 outage
• New Zealand Aluminium Smelter’s average load during August 2021 was 570MW 
• Meridian’s New Zealand retail sales volumes in August 2021 were 12.2% higher than August 2020
• Compared to August 2020, segment sales increased in residential +14.2%, small medium business +18.8% and corporate +17.2%. Large business volumes were -10.3% lower and agricultural volumes were -5.0% than August 2020.

ENDS

Neal Barclay
Chief Executive
Meridian Energy Limited