Hydro lakes lower

Press, 17 November 1976, Page 2

Hydro lakes lower

PA Wellington Cold weather last week increased electricity consumption and further reduced levels in the already low hydro storage lakes. But the Electricity Department believes the chances of power cuts have almost gone for the year because of a general seasonal fall in demand, helped by daylight saving. Electricity savings were only 5.7 per cent on the national guidelines last

week, after allowing for seasonal temperature corrections, compared with 7.4 per cent the week before. “There was no significant improvement in South Island inflows, but we are assuming the thaw cannot be much longer delayed and that the lower levels of oil generation will be maintained,” the general manager of the Electricity Department (Mr P. W. Blakeley) said yesterday. Over-all hydro storage fell again to 22 per cent of nominal full, compared

with 24 per cent the previous week and 27 per cent in the crisis period early last month. - South Island lake levels were maintained at IS per cent, and the fall occurred in the North Island, where lake levels dropped from 41 to 34 per cent.

The cost of oil fuel used last week was only $lO,OOO, up from the $2OOO the week before but still far lower than the $500,000 or more used weekly until the beginning of this month.