BOROUGH MUST REDUCE

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 14653, 23 April 1948, Page 2

BOROUGH MUST REDUCE

CONSUMPTION OF ELECTRICITY

Restriction Imposed On

Radiators

Consumers' Selfish Attitude

Deplored

The opinion that it would be seitish to hold the viewpoint that because the borough possessed its own generating plant consumers in the area need not economise, was expressed by the Mayor (Mr L. It. Wilkinson) at the monthly meeting of ihe Tauranga Borough Council following consideration of a report by the Engineer (Mr C. W. Boak). The engineer had told councillors that instead of a 15 per cent, reduction, as requested, consumption in the borough had increased by 17 per cent. The council 'had been given absolute powers, and unless it did something that looked like a threat —it would appear from the results last week —the council would not receive a response to the appeal. The engineer stressed the necessity for a reduction in consumption. Suggestion Approved

The council decided to inform consumers that the use of electric radiators on the council's reticulation was barred between the hours of 4 p.m. and C p.m. on any day of the week. Any consumer failing to observe this restriction would be liable to a. total disconnection of supply. The Mayor said he thought the consumers misunderstood the position in the Tauranga borough. They assumed, to a certain extent rightly, that the council owned the plant and, therefore, they were in a more fortunate position than consumers in other areas. The council had been asked and was now compelled to make certain reductions, and as restrictions had been applied on other consumers, this appeared to be the proper thing to do. it would be selfish to hold the view that just because the council possessed its own generating plant consumers in the borough need net economise.

If all consumers reduced their consumption the restrictions would not be hard on anyone, added the Mayor. He believed that if everyone observed the restrictions the effort should materially help to alleviate the situation. Advice From Controller The engineer advised that the council was informed on December 10 that the weekly allocation of units for 1948 would be the amount consumed in the corresponding week of 1947, plus 5 per cent., and again by telegram on March 31 that the allowable consumption must not exceed 15 per cent below the allocation. To take an actual week, on March 22, 1948, the comsumption in 1947 was 190,285 units. Allowing plus 5 per cent. (200,000 units) 15 per cent below the allocation would be 170,000 units, to balance against the actual draw on the' sub-station of 209,242 units. To keep within this allocation, approximately 39,000 units per week would have to be saved. i

To make the necessary reduction in the water-heating load, water heaters would have to be switched off for nine hours a day. From February, 1948, to the week ended April 12 the available water had been at a minimum. With the; exception of the week ended April 5, the available units for bulk sale had fallen to 67,739 for the week ended April 12. This surplus, during such a dry weather period, would allow an addition to the Tauranga borough demand of approximately 29J per cent, at which period the local demand would reauire the full output available, concluded the engineer.