PEAK LOAD OF YEAR

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25553, 22 July 1948, Page 4

PEAK LOAD OF YEAR

HEAVY DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY CONSERVATION OF POWER URGED Both the Municipal Electricity Department and the State Hydro-electric Department’s sub-station at Addington had their heaviest load of the winter late yesterday afternoon as darkness fell. No danger point was reached in either case; but an appeal was issued to consumers to restrict the use of power wherever possible during peak load periods. Cold weather, coupled with an early nightfall, caused the demand to rise above the normally higher peak in the late afternoon when lights are switched on and preparations are made for the evening meal. With about 2,600,000 units a day being supplied through the sub-sta-tion in the last three days, tire demand for power was the highest of the winter, said Mr W. H. Gregory, district engineer of the State Hydroelectric Department. Snow in the lake areas was freezing, restricting the flow of water; but it was hoped that this spell of weather would pass quickly without any need for further restrictions. “It has pulled our storage lower than we would like: but once a thaw sets in the position should improve rapidly,” he added. On a day to day basis, more power than was permitted had probably been used in the last three days. Careful use of power would be necessary for the rest of the week.

The Municipal Electricity Department’s staff watched their instruments closely yesterday afternoon. The peak reached last Monday was just passed.

AUCKLAND TO HAVE NEON SIGNS AGAIN

(P.A.) AUCKLAND, July 21. Neon signs will shortly be alight again in Auckland’s streets after a prohibition which has lasted almost continuously since 1941. The Auckland Power Board has decided that the ban on neon lighting will be lifted in conjunction with the raising of restrictions on shop window and under veranda lights. Mr G. H. Bartley, general manager of the board, said he hoped to make recommendations to the board next Monday on the period each day when all three types of lighting could be used. That period would be a reasonable one, but it would at the same time avoid unnecessary wastage of power.