QUOTA POWER RATIONING

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27641, 23 April 1955, Page 6

QUOTA POWER RATIONING

Introduction On June 1

CITY COUNCIL’S DECISION

1 Quota rationing of power will be : introduced by the Municipal Electn- : c to ail ■ consumers,' will be based on 1954 consumption up to June 12, less 15 per cent., and on 1953 consumption less 15 . per cent, after July 12. This, the elec--1 tricity committee reported to the City Council last evening, would take care of savings made last year t in response to appeals. X , Consuiription for the week ended last Sunday was 14.9 per cent over allocation, and for this week was .17.2 per cent, over allocation, but the committee ; said the apparently excessive use was primarily a result of the new allocation which began op April 1. Although the basic allocation for this year had been, increased on last year, the State Hydro-electric Department had found it necessary to ask for a reduction of 15 per cent, to keep consumption in line with last year’s allocation. Lake storage had dropped by 3,700,000 units in the last three days, said Cr: G. Manning, chairman of the coirimittee. He eould hold out no hope of any easing of restrictions. “We cannot let up if we want the water ; to carry us through the winter,” he said.

“T have not much confidence in Mr Davenport’s recommendation of quota rationing to bring results,” he said. Cr. J. Mathison, M.P., suggested that the committee should investigate the practicability of installing a standby generating plant to help during the power shortage.