FURTHER POWER CUT

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27472, 5 October 1954, Page 14

FURTHER POWER CUT

Reduction Of Ten Per Cent.

AUTHORITIES’ PLANS TO MEET ORDER

South iXJd 1d \ P l r SU ? ply authorities in the South Island, excepting those m Buller, Nelson and Marlborough districts, were required to reduce their consumption by a further 10 per cent in after a further decline of 650,000 units units A P g 24 StOrage had dropped to 16,430,000 units. A year ago yesterday storage stood at 94,500,000 units

Because of the storage position Mr Davenport yesterday sent the following telegram to South Island authorities, apart from those in the Marlborough, Nelson and Buller districts: It is regretted that circumstances necessitate a further 10 per cent, ret auction in consumption as from toil day. and accordingly hereby I direct • ? s , October 4. and un4 til further notice, that you limit !. consumption of electrical energy to a P a* llollll * not exceeding 80 per cent, of the amount allocated each week in the schedule of units sent to you by circular of June 29, 1954.” Engineer’s Comment After receiving this telegram supply authorities throughout North Canterannounced a new series of cuts had bet a planning last week to this development. ’ ’We have now got a 20 per cent. s « d J the district engineer of the otate Hydro-electric Department (Mr J?.- Gregory) yesterday afternoon, water m Lakes Tekapo and Pukaki was now well below the level which enabled full load to be carried at Waitaki and Tekapo. Now the only water available for those two stations was that coming mostly from river flow. Inspection of the watersheds in the last four days has shown no signs of a thaw as yet,” said Mr Gregory, "and the only thing that will help us will be north-west winds for several days accompanied by rain, and until that occurs the power position will remain precarious and dependent upon what storage is left, and what is available from river flows. Consumers will have to do something to help out. "We have given a supply of power in anticipation of the thaw and rains expected at this time of the year, and until they come consumers will have to put up with the inconvenience that the present position brings,” Mr Gregory said. Mr Gregory said in the past thaws had come as late as December and as early as the first week in September. However, the thaw usually started at the end of September and before th£ end of October at the latest. Cuts in M.EJD. Area Beginning this evening there will be an hour xmt over the whole of the Municipal Electricity Department’s area between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day of the week, except Friday and Sunday. Announcing this yesterday the electrical engineer of the department (Mr G. H. Battersby) said that all other restrictions were still in force and it was more important than ever that they should be strictly complied with These measures include the turning off of street lights at midnight, and the prohibition on the use of radiators and domestic water heaters between the hours of 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. daily. Present restrictions on shop and out ide lighting are retained. “The electricity committee has instructed me to carry out further inspection of the use of radiators, water heating and outside lighting,” said Mr Battersby. “The penalties for infringement of these restrictions will be settled by the committee when these offences are reported.” Manufacturers had been requested by the department and by circular through their association to restrict their consumption by 10 per cent. "It is vitally necessary for consumers to co-operate in conserving power at this stage so as to avoid the dislocation pi industry which would be caused by pro'otiged cuts during working hours,” said Mr Battersby. Riccarton.—No "black-out” cuts have been introduced in Biccarton borough yet, but if savings this week are not satisfactory they will be imposed next week. In the meantime the following restrictions will be in force* all electric advertising signs are prohibited till further notice; shop window lighting is prohibited except between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Fridays; no external lights are to be used; interior shop lighting to be reduced to a minimum during working hours and prohibited at other times; no electric

space heating whatever to be used bea.m. and 7 p.m.; water heating has been reduced to 12 hours a uay, but the electricity committee reserves the right to review these hours: industrial consumers to reduce conl 2* per cent-; and street lighting, other than on Riccarton road, to be cut off at 1 a.m. each day. An appeal is made to all consumers to continue their economies, as it is not thought that the above restrictions will give full effect to the extra Iff Per cent, reduction in consumption,” said the chairman of the council’s electricity committee, Cr. V. G. Spiller, after the borough’s schedule of restrictions had been announced. ‘‘lf consumers co-operate it should be possible to continue the council’s policy of no compulsory black-outs, but if the full savings are not achieved black-outs will be imposed next week.” Heathcote.-— ln the Heathcote county a new series of cuts will come into operation today, according to an announcement made yesterday afternoon by the County Clerk, Mr R. W. Morris. There will be a daily cut over the whole district between 9 a.m. and 10.30 am. and between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. Restrictions on water heating and radiators between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Kaiapoi.— A series of quarter-hour and half-hour cuts is being introduced by the Kaiapoi Borough Council. The electrical engineer, Mr R. G. Simpson said yesterday afternoon that the borough emergency committee had decided that from Monday to Thursday there should be quarter-hour cuts from 10 am. to 10.15 a.m. and 3 p.m. to 3.15 and half-hour cuts from 6.30 p.m. to 7 p.m There will also be quar-ter-hour cuts during the day on Friday and 2 pm. to 3 p.m. black-outs on Saturday and Sunday will be retained No veranda lighting or shop signs will be permitted between Monday and Thursday, but this type of lighting will be allowed on Fridays between 6 pm. and 9 pm. Water heaters will be cut off from 7.30 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. every day of the week, and street lighting will be turned off at midnight.

Banks Peninsula.— ln the Banks Peninsula Electric Power Board’s district, water heating, which is already restricted to the night hours only, is to be further reduced. The engineer to the board, Mr F. A. Lewthwaite, said the board had now called for a complete cut-off of heating on two nights a week. There were also to be additional area cuts on Tuesday and Thursday between 7 pm. and 8 p.m., with cuts on further days as necessary. Power would also be off between 1.30 p.m. and 4 pm. on Saturdays. Springs - Ellesmere. A cut from 6.15 pm. to 7 p.m. on three nights a week may be imposed in the SpringsEllesmere Powei Board’s district. The board already has a daily cut between 1 pm. and 2 p.m.; water heating and radiators are prohibited between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.: and street lighting is turned off at midnight. Additional restrictions may not be introduced until next week, according to the board’s secretary-manager, Mr W. N. Rasmussen. Malvern.— The Malvern Electric Power Board will impose an extra cut from 3 pm. to 4 p.m. each day, beginning today. This will be in addition to the existing cut between 6.30 p.m. and 7.30 pm. each day. The engineersecretary, Mr B. J. Harris, announced this yesterday. North Canterbury.— Further restrictions were approved last evening by the North Canterbury Electric Power Board. It was decided to make a midday cut from 12.15 p.m. to 1.15 p.m. from Monday to Friday anti to retain the existing cuts on Saturday and Sunday—9.3o am. to 10 a.m., and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Water heating, which has lately been switched off from 7 am. to 7 p.m., will now require to be off from 7 am. to 9.30 pm. A decision on restrictions in the Rangiora borough will be made at a meeting of the emergency committee this morning.