Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Mighty River Power sales rise

Updated at 8:33 am on 30 January 2013

Mighty River Power says sales rose 12% in the three months to December boosted by a jump in residential and commercial volumes.

The wholesale market price fell as a result of high inflows into South Island hydro lakes.

Mighty River Power said this affected the average price it received for its total generation sales which fell by 19% to $66 dollars a megawatt hour.

In response, Mighty River generated more from its lower cost hydro and geothermal plants, and less from its Auckland gas-fired power station.

The energy company gained market share, with customer numbers increasing 2% to 391,000.

The state-owned energy firm is expected to be partly privatised in the first half of this year.

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