CITY’S POWER SUPPLY

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25148, 1 April 1947, Page 6

CITY’S POWER SUPPLY

Economy Urged On Users REPORT ON “GRIM FACTS ” An appeal to all consumers of electricity to save power now and through the coming winter is made by the Christchurch City Council. A report to the council meeting last evening referred to the ‘‘grim facts” of the present position, for which, it said, the only available help was economy in the use of supply. The power load this, year was greater and the power resources were less, and the remedy was in the community’s own hands. The report presented by the electricity committee said that the Minister of Works (Mr R. Semple) on March 24 issued a statement on South Island power. It was the first pronouncement from either the Minister or his officers in which the necessary note of warning had not been offset and weakened by unwarranted optimism. The electricity committee welcomed this frank and informative statement.

‘‘Last winter the city had some measure of rationing in the sense of cut-offs for the purpose of load control,” said the report. “Last winter, however, we began the winter load period in definitely much better circumstances of water storage than is the case this year. This year, therefore, the load is greater and the resources less. It is not a matter of the situation being good or bad for one section of the South Island or another. The South Island resources should be viewed as a whole.

“Only Help Available” “The early winter problem would have been eased by better rainfall. By rainfall, plus lake storage, it could have been helped still more. From the Minister’s statement, neither of these now appears likely to help the supply this winter. Both could, and may, help it in the winter of next year. No possible remedy can be as effective as the self-help of a general, understanding. and public-spirited economy in the use of supply. This is, in fact, the only help available. • “The council appeals to its consumers for co-operation now and through the coming winter to minimise the use of units at all hours. This is a means of saving the stored water in the hydro electric system. It appeals further to consumers to begin now, and to avoid, generally, the use of appliances at peak load hours, from 11 a.m. to 12 noon and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. At these times generating plant capacity is fully taxed. If dangerously overloaded, cut-offs would become necessary to protect the generators. This watchfulness is particularly needed during the winter, and more particularly on wet, cold days in winter. ‘‘During the several years that, will precede the coming of supply from the large plant at Coal creek, there will unquestionably be an acute and sustained shortage and rationing,” the report added. “Some disappointments and restrictions must be accepted now in oic’er to help then.” Put briefly, the grim facts revealed were as follows: Load growth has exceeded expectations. The rainfall this year in the catchment area has been little more than half that of the same period last year. Waitaki flow has eased off five weeks earlier. Delay at Highbank has caused extra demands on Lake Coleridge. Its level has in consequence bepn lowered earlier than anticipated. The hoped-for storage at Pukaki will not be available for this winter. “Relatively small inconvenience now, if fully shared, will save real hardship later. We are still immeasurably better off than the North Island. The remedy—widespread economy, sincerely exercised and sustained —is in the community’s own hands. It must be forthcoming, or supply will be rationed. .The committee believes it will be forthcoming.” Three Points Emphasised Three points needed to be emphasised, said the chairman of the committee (Cr. F. S. Wilding) presenting the report. The first was that every consumer was asked by the City Council to reduce his use of electricity to the utmost, in order to conserve power for the peak demands of the coming winter. The second point was that the committee hoped that Cr. M. E. Lyons, and the South Island Power Boards’ Association would be successful in the attempt being made to bring all the power boards in the South Island into line in their action on this matter. The third point he wished to emphasise was that if every consumer made a voluntary and altruistic saving they would have a hope of avoiding drastic cuts and compulsory rationing In the winter. If the council itself could make any reductions in its use of power they would be made, Cr. Wilding added. “Those of us who have been closely associated with the power supply problem have viewed the position with very great concern,” said Cr. M. E. Lyons. “It should be emphasised that we are going into this winter in a very much worse position than we have known for many years.” The present supply system was based largely on water storage, said Cr. Lyons, and unfortunately Lake Coleridge was very far below its usual level. The recent statement on the South Island’s power position had been welcomed, he added The Minister had been quite frank about the seriousness of the position. There was no chance of the schemes now being pushed forward giving any relief in the coming winter. It was doubtful if they would give any relief in 1948. The lack of nor’-westers, bringing rain in the high country, had been remarkable in the last summer, Cr. Lyons went on, and the effect had been to reduce water storage. A definite need existed for the public to understand the position, so that, if possible, they could cushion the effect of a lower supply of electricity in the coming winter. Cr. George Manning urged that if restrictions had to be applied’ they should be uniform in the South Island and not enforced solely in Christchurch. The committee’s report was adopted unanimously.