New Zealand's reliance on coal and gas continues to reduce

Official data shows more than 83-percent of power generation in this year's first three months - was from renewable sources.

Hydro dams had their driest summer in almost four decades, and wind generation was also down.

But that was offset by a huge spike in solar generation, particularly from Lodestone's new farm in Eastern Bay of Plenty, and a rise in geothermal generation.

Coal and gas usage went up, but didn't surge as it did in 2012's dry spell.