Alarm about Buller power supply

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33456, 11 February 1974, Page 12

Alarm about Buller power supply

fl'rum Our Own Reporter) WESTPORT, February 10. Because of increased demand for electricity this year from expanding industries and 600 new domestic consumers when the Westport gasworks close, the Buller Electric Power Board is alarmed about prospects of a much-reduced allocation by the New' Zealand Electricity Department.

The chairman (Mr T. E. Wallis) said that although the district was fortunate not to have any cuts last year, it did seem that the Electricity Department intended differently in the coming months. “It looks as if a different set of figures has been fed into the computers assessing our supply requirements,” he said. Apart from former gas consumers, the board would

.{have to cater for the new; : plastics industry at Westport, i the expanded cement works . at Cape Foulwind, and a ' likelihood of extra power for • a higher output of coal from ; Buller mines. The tact that Buller coni sumers had saved almost ■ eight per cent of their alloca- ’ tion when asked to economise last year had apparently ) not been fully appreciated by I the department, Mr Wallis ’ said. The board would consider the position at its monthly meeting on WednesI day. the move to close the Westport gasworks has come as a particular embarrassment to the board at present. Apart from being faced with {inability to provide full power ; to new consumers, there will ; be some time before there is ; an ample supply of appliances I such as electric stoves.

The Westport Borough Council has said that while it wishes to close the gasworks on March 31, it will not do so until its consumers are assured of electric supply — which could take at least six months.