New Zealand Engineering 1998 November

New Zealand Engineering

High reliability, low maintenance requirements and excellent stability are among the features claimed for a fixed-point infrared flammable gas detector from a British company. The Cirrus detector from Crowcon Detection Instruments is guaranteed for five years not to require zero or span gas calibration, nor to exceed ± two percent drift. Lifetime factory calibration is achieved by using two infrared beams of differing wavelengths, each measured by separate detectors. One beam is not hydrocarbon-sensitive and provides an ongoing zero measurement for the second beam, enabling the detector to compensate for any drift in the infrared source. Cirrus detectors can differentiate between dirty optics and a fault, providing a warning signal in each case, and will still function when their optics are up to 75 percent obscured. Visit http://www.crowcon.com.

The Commerce Commission has released guidelines on how it intends to carry out the new responsibilities given to it under the Government's electricity reforms. The reforms have given it a third Act to enforce, the Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998. On 25 September the Commission released its guidelines, Practice Note 3: Electricity Industry Reform Act 1998, Commission's Role and Processes. The EIR Act does not replace the two Acts already enforced by the Commission but is additional to them. Nor does this mean the Commission will reduce its focus on Commerce and Fair Trading Act issues in the electricity industry. Copies of the Practice Note 3 are available on its web site www.comcom.govt.nz.

A new player is emerging in the energy industry in Auckland - reselling discounted electricity and proactively advising companies on how to better utilise their power. Greenlane based Netco Ltd has acquired a 51 percent stake in independent energy retailer Empower Ltd. As well as providing discounted electricity, Empower gives the customer the ability to more intelligently monitor and analyse their electricity usage, thus reducing their energy costs. Under its contract arrangements, the customer pays Empower for energy, and has the option of paying the company, or Mercury Energy or Power NZ, for the line rental. Its target customer is the small to medium sized business employing 10-150 staff, and having an annual electricity bill of over $10,000. Netco has also established contractual arrangements with GEC Avery which has18 branches nationwide for installation and servicing. For further information phone 0-9-571 0077.