Energy users boost savings

New Zealand consumers have boosted their electricity savings in the past week to 3.4 per cent, up from 1.9 per cent a week ago.

Winter Power Group convener Patrick Strange said the savings for the seven days to Tuesday were "a solid increase", which totalled more than 5 per cent when combined with major industrial savings.

"We have had some rain over the last weekend. While the major rainfall missed the large catchments in the South Island, Lake Taupo and some of the smaller regional lakes, like Cobb at the top of the South Island and Matahina in the Bay of Plenty, received good inflows," Strange said.

Consumers were urged not to cut back on heating with the arrival of a cold weather front.