NORTH ISLAND POWER SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21391, 6 February 1935, Page 12

NORTH ISLAND POWER SUPPLY

o VALUE OF TARANAKI LINE (TEES 3 ASSOCIATION TEI.EOBiU.) WELLINGTON, February 5. An interesting point, showing the value of the recently-completed interconnecting transmission line through Taranaki. between the Arapuni power station on the Waikato river and the southern electrical system sup'plied irom the Government stations at ATangahao and Waikarcmoana, was mentioned to-day by the Hon. J. Bitehener, Minister for Public Works. He stated that for the period from January 1 to January 17 10,217,000 units oi electricity were received on the southtin system from Arapuni, although the ordinary consumer of electricity would not know that his supplies were comiiiß from anywhere but the usual source. This really meant that about 55 per cent, of the power used m the southern part of the North Island durin" that period came from Arapuni. fhe reason for this, stated the Minister, was that the Public Works Department was taking the opportunity in preparation for growing demands to increase the capacity of the transmission line between Napier and Bunnythorpe, and while this work was being done full supplies of power could not be drawn from the Waikaremoana power station, as would normally be the case, because sections of this line were being altered. All sub-stations to the north ot the section being worked on would be supplied by the Waikarcmoana station, and those to the south by Mangahao and Arapuni stations. The work was now ncaring completion, and when % this was done the Waikarcmoana station would aaain take up the work of supplying the bulk of the demand in the southern half of the North Island.