MORE ELECTRICITY

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 178, 24 April 1942, Page 8

MORE ELECTRICITY

Increased Consumption Permitted CARE IN CONSERVATION STILL NEEDED The need for continued conservation of electricity was stressed yesterday by Mr. E. T. M. Kissel, Dominion Lighting Controller. Though power authorities had been notified that an increase would be permitted 'in weekly unit consumption on that for the corresponding week last year, averaging 4 per cent, for the whole Dominion, there were no additional facilities for generating power. Mr. Kissel explained that the consumption of electricity now allowed for the whole of the Dominion was b per cent, above that in lp lo - . t‘One additional foot of water 111 Lake Taupo is worth £40,000 to the department in electricity, stated the controller, referring to the control gates which, by raising the level of the lake about three feet, were among the chief factors in permitting the slight Bpaxa tion in the rationing of power. Pledging of the bed of the Waikato was st li being carried out between the hike and the Huka Falls to improve the How of the river. Loss in transmission had been overcome by the provision of a new line between Bunuythorpe an Ol The l dccrease in the importation of electrical devices and the gradual cd cation of the public'to prevent waste had also assisted in the reduced consumption. Mr. Kissel did not consider tha/blackout measures had contributed greatlv. On the other hand, heavy demands for power were being .made by military camps and industiy.

INCREASED ALLOWANCE

FOR HUTT VALLEY

» 10 per cent, weekly increase in power consumption over the correinmwlino- weeks last year has been graced”to the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board, according to advice from the Electricity Controller, Mi. 1. 1M Kissel, presented to yesterday s meeting of the board. The increase, it was stated, was due to some extent to the control station at Taupo, and the new Orgarue-Bunnythorpe power line. However, it was doubtful if the new unit at Lake Waikaremoana would be in operation as expected because of the 11611-arrival of material. Members of the board expressed the opinimi that the 10 per cent, increase would not be sufficient The engineer and general manager of the board Mi. E F Hollands, said the board had pi actically established a new industrial area in the district, and there would be more calls for additional power from the Hutt Valley board than from any other board in the Dominion. Mr. J. W Andrews said there was sure to be an increase when more factories in the valley engaged on war production went on to three shifts a day.