EFFECT OF POWER CUTS

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27987, 6 June 1956, Page 14

EFFECT OF POWER CUTS

Lower Demand Usual After Easing EXPERIENCE IN M.E.D. AREA

Because of the use of auxiliary heating and cooking appliances and the enforced reduced use of electrical power, lower demands by consumers in the M.E.D. area are expected even after restrictions are lifted when the Roxburgh generating station comes into operation. Past experience in Christchurch after a period of severe restrictions has been that Consumers are slow to return to full consumptl< Following its precepts, the M.E.D. is saving power in its offices, a line of kerosene heaters was bought wholesale and placed in the colder offices. One is in the office of the engineermanager (Mr G. H. Battersby), and he is also using one in his own home “I am quite certain that the people will continue to use them,” said Mr Battersby yesterday, when he was asked if he thought householders who had bought heaters and incinerators would continue to use them, having invested in and become accustomed to non-electric appliances. ‘‘Kerosene heaters are slightly dearer to operate than electric heaters, but I think the people will continue to operate them for a while after power cuts are lifted. You can’t expect anything else. We hSve always noticed after a period of severe cuts that it takes consumers quite a while to get back to the same use of electricity as they were making before the cuts began.” In 1946, consumers in the M.E.D. area used 177.000,000 units, and in 1947. the first year of restricted supply, 204,000,000. In 1948, consumption dropped to 200.000,000 units. Since then the recurring shortages have no! produced any actual reduction in units but have kept the growth down. Units Isold in the last three years have been: 1954, 278.000.000; 1955, 289,000,000; 1956. 316.000,000. The increase this year over 1955 was 9.4 per cent., the same increase as of maximum demand, which was 85,691 k.w., which occurred on July 6, 1955. That maximum demand was the figure which might normally have been expected, allowing for some reduction due to power restrictions nominally in force at the time. It was very near the 87.000 k.w. predicted in the report of the finance and utilisation committee in May, 1954. The units sold by the M.E.D. in 1955-56 showed a substantial increase over the orevious year, due to the year ended March 31, 1955, being covered bv fairly severe general restrictions, whereas the restrictions last year, although nominally in force, were not made compulsory by cut-offs or special restrictions until immediately before the close of the year.

More Consumers The number of new consumers connected during the year was 2001, while 306 installations were permanently disconnected, leaving a net increase of 1695. The number of consumers totalled 57.480. 50,213 being residential and 7267 commercial and industrial. “A gradual increase in the consumption is noticeable all the time, due to the building of new houses,” commented Mr Battersby yesterday. “Use in existing houses is still on the increase, although consumers get a knock-back now and again by these restrictions.” In the present shortage, coming in the autumn, many had bought,-as soon as the threat came, kerosene and auxiliary heating which they might have deferred buying, he said. It was not to be supposed that they were going to discard them now, although he felt that the equipment would not be very saleable. Besides, it was fair to say that heaters of the convection type were more effective than other types, whether ejectrical or not, which radiated directly, for retaining room temperatures for a long period. Owners would continue td use them, because they gave a nice effect and. when properly managed, were practically odourless. Water Heaters Big Users

The revenue a unit sold by the M.E.D. last year was:—Domestic, .799 d (compared with ,812 d in 1955 and .77d in 1954); commercial, 2.001 d (2.24 d 1.971 d); industrial, 1.03 d (I.oBld, 1.077 d). The units sold were:—Domestic, 219,270,902 (201,083.391 in 1955); commercial, 33,579,667 (30,300,034); industrial, 58,995,849 (53,096,695). More water heaters than ranges are connected to the M.E.D. system. At March 31 last, 36,886 permanently wired ranges were connected, 36,208 being domestic. The total connected load of the ranges is 274,964 k.w. Electric water heaters connected were 38,125, 36,827 being domestic. The total connected load was 32,807. Several factors which may force a review of prices by the M.E.D. for power in the next few years were set out by the secretary (Mr John Denford) in his annual report to the City Council last week, when he said that the meagre surplus of £4702 in the operating account would, in a more normal year free of restrictions, have been augmented by £23,000 to £27,000. On a turnover of £1,300,000, even that figure (2.1 per cent) would be too marginal to cover “freak peaks,” he said; but it was hoped to strengthen the financial position and also provide for increasing costs out of savings produced by the peak load control equipment.

Because it was the desire of the City Council best to serve the consumers of Christchurch by keeping the price for electricity as low as possible, the outcome of the following factors, Mr Denford said, would be awaited with keen interest:—The need to borrow further loan moneys if capital could not be made available from the M.E.D.’s own resources; the upward trend in bulk supply costs, due to bringing costly generating stations into production; the impact of natl, J? the gas indu stry, maybe without a Government subsidy or on a capitalisation basis that could not P e supported by the proceeds of that