PEAK-LOAD PLANT

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 3

PEAK-LOAD PLANT

Dept’s Changed Policy

(NZ. Press Association)

AUCKLAND, May 25

The Waitemata Electric Power Board is thankful it got in first and obtained approval to buy a gas-turbine peak generating plant at a cost of about £400,000. The Electricity Department has now banned the use of any more generators. The chairman of the board (Mr F. C. Chandler) in his annual address today said that when the board first considered peak generating plant, permission to instal the plant was readily given by the department. “With a change in management, there has been a change in the department attitude, and it now seems that consent to generate for peak-load reduction will not be given to any other supply authority,” Mr Chandler said. “Whether this policy is I right or wrong, only time will tell. In the meantime, the : board must consider itself fortunate that it was first in i the field and past the point lof no return before the department's views changed.” The board has bought two peak-load generators. The first is expected from Canada shortly. The two generators are expected to save Waitemata consumers about £150,000 a year and reduce the drain on the national supply at peak periods.