By WEIR, James LAKE Taupo needs a week of heavy rain, according to Electricity Commission chairman David Caygill, and he expects wholesale power prices to fall when the Stratford power station resumes operating next week.

By NEEMS, Jeff Electricity generators have their eyes on the heavens as the region's water levels continue to fall, reports Jeff Neems .

Lake Taupo needs a week of heavy rain, according to Electricity Commission chairman David Caygill, and he expects wholesale power prices to fall when the Stratford power station comes back into operation next week.

Environment Waikato is threatening a crackdown on Taupo farmers beefing up stock numbers in defiance of nitrogen capping rules. Since July, farmers have had to obtain resource consents on historical land use under a regional council plan to limit nitrogen leaching into Lake Taupo.

By WATSON, Mike POWER generator Mighty River Power will start building an artificial reef to halt shoreline erosion at Lake Taupo. The 30-metre reef will be offshore from the Waitahanui River mouth, 12 kilometres south of Taupo. Mighty River Power was granted resource consent this year.