ELECTRICITY SERVICES

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 229, 24 June 1941, Page 6

ELECTRICITY SERVICES

It was realized that the winter of 1941 would present difficulties in the provision of adequate electric services. The outbreak of wai seriously interfered with plans for the extension of more than one major generating station, and some of the plant ordered long ago has not yet been delivered. The failure to keep the supply well ahead of the probable demand was due to causes quite beyond the power of the authorities to control. And, at the same time, the demand was increasing rapidly. The wider reticulation of country districts, die installation of plant requiring electric power in new factories, and the requirements of the Government itself for electric trains, and Hie lighting and heating of camps and aerodromes, all tended to build up the demand.

The position must be faced and it is for the authorities to devise such method, if restrictions in some form cannot be avoided, to ensute that the least possible inconvenience will be caused. It cannot oc satisfactory to have only a matter of a tew moments notice, still less to have no notice at all, that power is going to be cut oft. It may mean serious hardship! as well as inconvenience to the people concerned. The best course to adopt surely, would be to assume Liat some restriction will be necessary, possibly by cutting off the powti hi defined areas at a given and for a stated time Unless that is -tone the resu’ts. if Wednesday's experience is repeated, mav bt serious There are institiit'ony such as private hospitals maternity •'nmes and other p’aces where ademiatr lipbtin" and heating is m GcfNnnqnh 1e and mannfaeturinn concern- 'hat if diev do not possess anyi'tarv plants must stand id'e system wherein reasonable warnin' 7 ran he assurer' is essential And as it is the domestic demand that more than any other factor has created the temporary difficulty, it is in the power of each householder, and those using electric light and heat, to assist by preventing any wastage and by exercising reasonable economy in the use of these services. Tn the circumstances that has become a communal duty.