Summer prime time

Press, 20 February 1986, Page 19

Summer prime time

Summertime, when electricity consumption is low, is the prime time for the maintenance and installation of New Zealand’s power generation and transmission system. For most urban dwellers the perennial maintenance work on the power system may go unnoticed. In more isolated parts of New Zealand, however, power consumers usually face up to five-hour power cuts during summer, while their section of the electricity distribution network is worked on. The Electricity Division of the Ministry of Energy, which is responsible for maintenance work, tries to co-ordinate its maintenance work and power cuts with the time when demand for power is at its lowest. That was during summer, said an officer of the Electricity Division in Christchurch, Mr David Hodder. The division negotiated with each power supply authority for, a time that

was mutually suitable and would cause the least inconvenience to consumers. In larger districts the power did not need to be cut as the division had alternative transformers which could be used.

In rural areas, such as South Westland and North Canterbury, where electricity was supplied via small sub-stations, the power had to be cut completely to enable division workers to work.