POWER AND GAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1945, Page 6

POWER AND GAS

NOTHING TO SPARE

CONSUMERS MUST HELP

Today the City Electricity Department and the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board were, until the early afternoon, just getting through, but whether the later afternoon demand will exceed the power available and necessitate the cutting- off of sections cf supply areas is anyone's guess. Radiators are the biggest worry on a cold afternoon. In the Hutt Valley water heaters, which are not controlled by time switch as in Wellington, send up the peak demand dangerously if they are left on during the hours of high demand. The Power Board asks consumers to use their water heaters at night only, from, say, 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. *The trimming of all unnecessary uses of power in Wellington must be more thorough this week than last, for the city control room has been instructed to keep the demand upon the generating stations 5 per cent, lower than last week. Consumers simply must get into the firm habit of economising, for the hardest weeks of power shortages are still ahead. COAL FOR GAS. The gas position is easier. From the Petone and Lower Hutt Gas Board the Wellington Gas Company borrowed 100 tons, and though 100* tons is only about half the daily requirement, the welcome assistance eased the position over the ■ weekend. Yesterday the Poolta arrived with coal from Westport and two coal ships are due from Greymouth this evening. The Storm is carrying a full cargo of coal, and the Gabriella has a cargo of timber and coal.