POWER CURBS RELAXED

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 28001, 22 June 1956, Page 10

POWER CURBS RELAXED

Radiators Allowed In Mornings RESTORATION OF SHOP LIGHTS Electric radiators may now be used' in commercial or domestic premises up to 10 o’clock each morning. This was one of the most important decisions made by the emergency electricity committee of the Christchurch City Council, when it further eased restrictions at its meeting yesterday. The decisions come into force today. The committee’s decisions. announced by the engineer-manager of the Municipal Electricity Department (Mr G. H. Battersby) last evening, included the complete lifting of some restrictions and changes in some others. Some restrictions still remain in force. Restrictions which have been lifted are:— The lighting of shop windows and car sales yards is now permitted. The restriction on inside shop lighting, which was 50 per cent., has been lifted. External lights for pedestrian purposes, which were prohibited, are permitted. Restrictions which have been changed are:— Domestic and commercial radiators may now be used in the mornings up to 10 o’clock. Previously they have been prohibited. The only remaining power cut, for two hours on Sunday afternoons, has been reduced to one hour between 2 p.m. and 3.30 p.m. Restrictions which remain the same are:— Electric advertising signs are still prohibited day and night. Water heating hours remain the same, as decided by the committee at its meeting last week—from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, irrespective of alternative means of heating. Restrictions on the lighting of sports grounds are unchanged. Outdoor lighting for sports is prohibited. Indoor lighting for sports is not to exceed 50 per cent, of normal consumption in number of hours or in the amount ot power used. Mr Eattersby said the easing of the restrictions on the use of radiators would mean that domestic consumers could use them from when they got up until 10 a.m.. and commercial consumers could use them from when their premises opened until the same time. Review of Consumption The use of radiators would be kept under review, and the prohibition of their use after 10 a.m. would be carefully policed. Mr Battersby said. ]t it was found that consumption went up considerably, action would be taken. The council was still under the requirement by the State Hydro-electric Department to maintain a 20 per cent, reduction on normal allocation, said Mr Battersby. Therefore the committee emphasised that it was necessary for all consumers to use their new liberties with discretion. Consumers in the M.E.D, area were 7.3 per cent, within their allocation on Wednesday, and on the previous dav they were 8 per cent, within allocation. he said. They still had to keep within the allocation though restrictions had been eased.

RICCARTON EASES RESTRICTIONS

A further relaxation in Riccarton power restrictions was announced yesterday after a meeting of the electricity rationing committee of the Riccarton Borough Council. The committee has decided to allow electric space heating daily to 10.30 a.m.: under-veranda shop lighting and advertising signs on Fridays only between 6.15 p.m. and 9 p.m.; and a 5 per cent, increase in the electricity quota of industrial consumers. (This represents a reduction of the restrictions to 7| per cent.) “So far this week the council is approximately 4 per cent, under its allocation, and if consumers continue to save voluntarily it is considered that the council will be able to keep within its allocation, and. at the same time, allow sufficient hours a day for the heating of electric water cylinders,” said Cr. C. E. Trippner, acting-chair-man of the committee. “These relaxations will be effective from tomorrow ”

STORAGE STILL RISING

Storage for power generation in the South Island rose by 720.000 units to 87.070,000 units in the 24 hours ended yesterday morning. Rainfall in the period included O.OSin at Monowai, 0.30 in at Waipori, 0.12 in at Lake Tekapo. 0.26 in at Lilybank station. and 0.34 in at Lake Coleridge. A frost of 3.5 degrees was reported at Tekapo on Wednesday night. The weather yesterday morning was reported to be overcast in the far southern high country, and mild and clear in the central areas, with northwest winds. Over the northern high country there was light cloud, with a north-east wind.

Power consumption on the main system remains uniformly high. On Monday, 3.589.720 units were used, on Tuesday 3,591.150 units, and on Wednesday 3.623.800 units.

CONTROLS LIFTED IN ELLESMERE AREA From Monday, all power restrictions will be removed in the Springs-Elles-mere Electric Power Board’s district. Last week consumption in the district was 12.9 per cent, less than allocation.

However, the board asks consumers to continue to conserve power until conditions return to normal.