ELECTRIC POWER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 218, 25 June 1943, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER

POSSIBILITY OF SHORTAGE. THE SOUTH ISLAND POSITION. ( Sp.) • CHRISTCHURCH, June 23. Considerable apprehension at the prospective serious shortage of power in the South Island was expressed in a resolution adopted by the regional conference of all members of the New Zealand Electric Rower Boards’ and Supply Authorities’ Association in the South Island, * which was held in Christchurch to-day. The conference appointed a committee of 10 members representing power boards and supply authorities, to review the power situation in general- and to formulate proposals for obviating the difficulties confronting the industry. This committee will co-operate with two similar committees in the North Island. The administrative control of the supplying of power was the subject of another Resolution passed by the conference. It stated that the conference Strongly reaffirmed the recommendation pade in the 1935 Bulk Supply Report, that the administrative control of the generation of electric power supply should be so adjusted that the supply anutliorities, as partners in the industry, should be given a definite status, in regard to decisions affecting all policy matters and plant installations for future supply.

Rehabilitation of Industry

The conference which was arranged by the association, was opened by the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr E. H. Andrews). The Deputy-Mayor (Mr M. E. Lyons) presided at the discussions, which lasted all day.

A long report reviewing the growth of the shortage of bulk electricity supplies in New Zealand, the extent of the shortage in the North and South Islands, prospects for the future, and the effects on national rehabilitation, was discussed by the conference. The report stated that the general margin of safety in the South Island was larger than in the North Island, hut the basic causes which had brought about the North Island’s difficulties applied with equal force and would, if not corrected, introduce the same conditions. Dealing with the bulk power position in the South Island, the report stated that with an installed capacity of only 103,560 kilowatts, a peak load of 96,000 kilowatts, and the war still undecided, it seemed inescapable that while the war period might he dealt with successfully, rehabilitation immediately after the war would depend upon the speed with which the Highbanlc and Tekapo schemes could be put into operation. It was obvious also that there was now and would he for some time little prospect of there being available plant upon which to depend as standby. “In Waitaki there is theoretically at best 20,000 to 30,000 kilowatts available for -this purpose, providing the water is available at the time it is needed,” stated the report. “This is by no means certain, and in, the meanI time plant is being worked to a degree of continuous running and loading which must be technically and economically far in excess of what should be considered reasonable in a country so dependent upon electricity as is New Zealand. Post-war'Construction. “It .seems fairly certain that unless Highbank and/or Tekapo are to be available immediately after the war, rehabilitation, as at present proposed, will be nearly as difficult as in the North Island. The significant and dangerous point is, however, that provision for immediate .post-war construction, other than Highbank and Tekapo, does not seem to be arranged for. While the present demand load of 90,000 kilowatts seems certain to double by 1953, there is only in sight an additional 40,000 kilowatts, making a total of 100,160 kilowatts.

“It is suggested that the usual five or six years’ time lag for completion of a. major hydro station must he calculated’ as from the end of the war, so that plans should now he drawn, finances arranged, and a place in the rehabilitation programme for 100,000 kilowatts of stations in the South Island if a reasonably safe plant use factor and a reasonable margin of base load generating plant is to be provided “There seems no indication at present that such provisions have l con made, nor does there appear to bo sufficient appreciation by the Government of the extent of dislocation attendant upon a severe and persistent power shortage, and the extent of provision needed for the future based on load increases as known to supply authorities as retailers of electricity, as distinct from buyers of bulk electricity. “With’ care and hydraulic luck, the South Island position appears able to meet conditions lor the next two years,” stated the report, in summing up the situation: “Immediate postwar needs will be met to the degree of speed with which Teknpo and Highbank are completed.

“A further I.oo,ooo.kilowatts should bo now planned, and construction begun now or immediately after the war. There seems considerable danger that the Government will not agree with this, and that there is need for members to press for recognition on this point.”