POWER SUPPLY IN NORTH

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25135, 17 March 1947, Page 6

POWER SUPPLY IN NORTH

Rain Needed For Improvement PROSPECTS FOR NfcXT WEEK (P.A.) AUCKLAND, March 16. The power supply would get no better until heavy rain fell over the North Island and coal supplies materially improved, said the electricity controller (Mr F. T. M. Kissel). Even when the water and fuel shortage was overcome some restrictions would have to remain, he added, but these would not be as severe as at present. Apart from the unit at Arapuni which could not be used anyway because of the lack of water, and an oil-burning unit at the Evans Bay power station, Wellington, all generating plant was in working order. After a week of growing power difficulties still heavier restrictions were imposed on Saturday on power boards in the Auckland district, and although the position eased slightly to-day, the prospects for the coming week are very gloomy. Lake Taupo and Lake Waikaremoana continue to fall. The level of Taupo today was 1173.55 ft, a drop over the week-end of about two inches. Film screenings were interrupted without warning at a number of suburban theatres on Saturday night as the Auckland Electric Power Board cut off areas to meet increased demands for power economy. The periods of cut-off varied from 20 minutes to one hour, and in most cases audiences waited patiently for programmes to continue, sometimes joining in community singing to while away the dark minutes.

WATER HEATING MAY BE CURTAILED

(P.A.) WELLINGTON, March 16.

The disconnexion of electric waterheaters which in the aggregate consume a substantial proportion of the supply of electricity is believed to be one of the methods likely to be adopted for making further savings in. the use ot power. The Minister Of Works (Mr R. Semple) indicated last week that more drastic methods than those already adopted for saving cower were under consideration by the Government, but so far no announcement has been made of the form these are to take.

Asked- this evening if the power used for water heating was likely to be cut off, the general manager of the State Hydro-Electric Department (Mr F. T. M. Kissel) said that all sorts of methods had been discussed for saving power. “We will obviously have to do something if we do not get rain,” he added, “but no decision has yet been made. The situation, however, is still bad.”