SOUTH ISLAND POWER

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 14

SOUTH ISLAND POWER

LAKE STORAGE STILL FALLING CUT IN SUPPLY POSSIBLE FROM MARCH 25 At the present rate of consumption, and if no rain falls in the catchment areas, the South Island will have a greatly reduced power supply from March 25. By that date, storage in the lakes supplying water to the State Hydro-electric Department’s generators in the South Island is expected to be so low that its use for power generation will not be possible. This announcement was made in Christchurch yesterday by the district engineer for the department (Mr W. H. Gregory). Storage for the main grid fell by 1.900.000 units to 35.970,000 units on Tuesday, and all the lakes supplying the system were dangerously close to retention levels, he said.

At present, Lake Coleridge is I.2ft above retention level. Tekapo is 4.75 ft, Pukaki is 11.2 ft, Monowai is 1.54 ft. and Mahinerangi is I.7ft. On Tuesday. 52.6 per cent, of the units used came from storage, and the forecast of storage exhaustion on March 25 is based or this rate of consumption of stored units.

The position has been aggravated, to some degree, through the Highbank power station, which uses water from the Rangitata diversion race, not operating to capacity. Asked why this was so, Mr Gregory said that the diversion race had been built primarily for irrigation purposes, and water for power from this source was of secondary importance. During the winter, Highbank was able to operate at full capacity because water was not required for irrigation. The diversion race was controlled by the Ministry of Works, said Mr Gregory. Asked whether it would not be possible to have Highbank brought into full operation by restricting the water available for irrigation, Mr Gregory said: “That is up to the Minister. He might take the view that it is just as necessary to have irrigation for primary production. We would be very pleased to have it.” Consumers supplied by the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department used 20.8 per cent, more power than they are allowed under their reduced allocation, during the 24 hours ended 9 a.m. yesterday. The City Council’s electricity committee will meet today to consider what further steps will be taken to reduce consumption.