Dept acts to save hydro storage

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34087, 26 February 1976, Page 19

Dept acts to save hydro storage

('Parliamentary Reporter WELLINGTON The Electricity Department has changed its policy and will now burn oil to generate electricity when to do so will .save hydro-electric storage. The policy was changed after the department had taken into account the present storage, expected loads, and the commissioning programme for both new plant; and the high Pukaki dam. said the department’s general; manager (Mr P. W. Blakeley).; North Island storage fell! to 90 per cent of nominal; full last week, and South Island storage fell to 86 pei cent of nominal full. There was no spilling from any of! the hydro stations last week, except for a brief period as a result of a generator fault at Whakamaru.

. Savings in electricity consumption improved last : week, to 7.5 per cent under the national guidelines.

Increased generation at both New Plymouth and Marsden stations caused a rise in oil consumption and oil fuel costs amounted to' $464,000.

“One gas-fired machine at Stratford operated at nearly, continuous full load last week I and so made a significant contribution to thermal station generation.’’