POWER SUPPLY IMPROVES

Press, Volume LXXXVI, Issue 26125, 30 May 1950, Page 6

POWER SUPPLY IMPROVES

Quota Rationing In Abeyance RESTRICTIONS STILL IN FORCE The quota rationing scheme imposed on May 8 for consumers in the M.E.D. area has been suspended, after the decision of the State Hydro-electric Department yesterday to lift the restriction on supply to 87£ per cent, of 1949 consumption.

Although rationing has been lifted in the meantime, the following restrictions will apply in the M.E.D. area:— No domestic water heating from noon till 6 p.m.. Outside shop window lighting only between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. No inside lighting when shops are closed. No neon and advertising signs. No office radiators after 11 a.m. Indoor and outdoor sports areas, lights on three evenings weekly from dusk to 9.30 o’clock. No power for Tepid Baths heating. No street lights from midnight till dawn during full moon period. Although quota rationing has been lifted, preparations will be continued by the M.E.D. The power emergency committee decided yesterday, when it met at 2 p.m., to continue with the preparation of details of the scheme so that plans may be filed and brought into operation at any future time of emergency. “The committee feels that it should be given time to see how the public reacts to the new conditions under the lifting of rationing,” said the chairman of the committee (Cr. L. G. Amos). “Consumption in the M.E.D. area for the week ended midnight on Sunday was 2.3 per cent, under the allocation. As a result of the announcement by the State Hydro-electric Department, quota rationing is in abeyance in the meantime. It has been left to me to call the next meeting of the power emergency committee.”

An announcement was made yesterday afternoon by the Malvern Electric Power Board that the early morning cut—from 1 o’clock to 6 o’clock—would cease immediately, because of the improvement of the hydro-electric water storage position. However, extreme care in the use of electricity was still necessary and all consumers were urged to continue the voluntary savings they were making before the cuts were introduced on May 10. Storage for hydro-electric generation for the main South Island system yes- - 2 G»n na^n nWa s- JO O-’12?.’000’ 12 ?.’ 000 units > a rise of 3.800.000 units in 24 hours. The generation was 2,010,265 units on Saturday and 1.711,645 units on Sunday. • A Ju lhe Har P er river. 1350 cusecs were in the race on Saturday and 2500 cusecs were going to waste. The flow w ?s d nn Wn to 1050 cusec s On Sunday, with 90 cusecs not being used. The now in the Waitaki river rose on Sunday to 18 573 cusecs from 17,159 cusecs on Saturday, auxiliary units generated 9845 units and on Sunday 17,439 units. Rises in the levels of storage lakes were recorded at 9 a.m. yesterday, k iRRff o le J ld + ge^ r( ? se , from 166825 feet 1° f^ et ’ Pukak i from 1629.3 feet to 1630.85 feet, Monowai from 678.91 feet to 678.96 feet, and Mahinerangi from 80.04 feet to 80.08 feet..