Gas Pipeline Leak

MAUI PIPELINE CRITICAL CONTINGENCY UPDATE

· A further Band of customers have been released from gas curtailment, due to the continued conservation efforts from all gas users.

· Band 4 customers, of which there are approximately 1,000 in the affected area will be able to use gas once instructed by their retailer. These customers are typically small industry, larger hotels, shopping malls and commercial buildings.

· Gas retailers will notify each Band 4 customer individually, advising that they may begin using gas, by phone or text message. Customers not contacted by their gas retailer must not use gas.

· Everyone using gas (residential users, Band 5 essential services, Band 6, and now Band 4 once instructed by retailers) must continue to use gas frugally.

· The Critical Contingency Operator is continuing to monitor the situation and managing the available gas to make sure the system can continue to operate. The situation is delicate and dependent upon the continued support and co-operation of all gas users.

About curtailment bands:

· Residential customers - unbanded, not subject to curtailment.

· Band 6 customers – small commercial and industrial customers and low users of gas.

· Band 5 customers – essential providers – eg hospitals, some food manufacturers and processors, prisons, crematoria etc.

· Band 4 customers – medium size commercial and industrial customers eg. Larger hotels, commercial buildings, industrials, shopping malls, etc.

· Band 3 customers – large industrials with no alternative fuel source.

· Band 2 customers – large industrials with alternative fuel source.

· Band 1 power stations and NZ Refining Company.