SOUTH ISLAND POWER

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 February 1947, Page 6

SOUTH ISLAND POWER

FEAR OF SHORTAGE IN NEXT FEW YEARS CONTROL OF LOAD SOUGHT (PA.) CHRISTCHURCH, Feb. 7. A request to the Electricity Controller to apply to the South Island the* Order-in-Council, amendment No. 1, to the Electricity Control Order, 1945, is to be made by South Island power supply authorities. This order defines what classes of load a supply authority shall permit to be connected, and, in general, prohibits new space heating installations and heating or power installations where an alternative to electricity is reasonably available. \ The decision to make the request was reached at a meeting of South Island power authorities to-day, when fears of a power shortage in the South Island in the next few years were expressed. Mr. M. E. Lyons, chairman of the South Island regional committee ' of the Electrical Supply and Power Boards’ Association, presided. Mr. A. E. Davenport, Chief Electrical Engineer to the State Hydro-Electric Department, and Mr. J. A. Nash (Palmerston North), president of the association, also attended the conference.' A second resolution passed by the conference was a strong recommendation that the manufacture of radiators and other space heating units above a capacity of two kilowatts be prohibited. Big Demand Expected. “In 1946 there was a winter demand of 160,000 kilowatts,” Mr. Lyons said. “With the 10 per cent, increase which we expect and to which we have become used, it will not be long before we are in the position where our demands on the South Island supply system will go up to very big figures indeed.. We should have been very much higher in our demands had it not been for the • unavailability to the consumer of the equipment which makes for consumption. In the city,, if we had been able to supply electric stoves to those who wanted them, our electrical consumption would have been very much higher than it was. In the coming winter, in 1949, and in particular, in 1950, the position looks, if not grim, one which demands some foresight so that the blows which might have to be placed on industry should fall as softly as possible..” After referring to the restrictions on power enforced in the North Island, Mr. Nash said he had found Christchurch beautifully lighted, with electric signs at night. In northern districts, even in winter, power had been cut off and on exceptionally • cold days some office workers had had to leave early because of the lack of heating. In 1943, the Government and independent generators had supplied 1,258,000,000 units and this had risen only slightly to 1,407,000,000 units in 1946. A fall of 15 feet in the level of the water at Waikaremoana had occurred, and the situation in the next two months was dependent entirely on the rainfall. In the North Island, March was awaited with dread. At that time the Hora Hora station would go cut of use and the new Karapiro station would not start operation until April. “Not So Grim.” “The picture in the South Island is not so grim as it might appear at first sight,” said Mr., Davenport. “With the plant we, have on order, and being constructed, we could cope with an increase in demand of 71 per cent. If the demand is going to exceed that, then something will have to be done. Over many years the load increase in the South Island has averaged about 71- per cent., but for planning purposes it has been taken at 10 per cent., which is about right over a long term. So long as average hydraulic conditions prevail, I do not anticipate any major trouble in the South Island in 1947.- It is just possible that if the water position at Waitaki is not satisfactory in the later part of the winter, we may have a small amount of trouble. Generally speaking, however, an increase of 71 or 8 per cent, should be met.” “You may feel it better, in the interests of the consumer, to exercise control earlier than is absolutely necessary to safeguard the position for future years,” Mr. Davenport said. “Control, however, is very unpleasant for’ all. It requires careful thought before the order is applied to the South Island generally. We feel it is something which should be postponed until necessary, provided we give adequate warning. The fact that, the conference is being held will serve to give the public some warning.” “Misleading Optimism.” After referring to the achievertients and ability of the officers of the State Hydro Department, Mr. Hitchcock (general manager of the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department), said the department showed an unconscious but misleading optimism.. As long as the departmen said “all is well” how could they get co-operation from consumers in a position which was certainly not so well. They were badly in need of a frank statement. Mr. J. B. Kent (Greymouth) said they had been skirting round the problem. In his district the radiator problem had been met by means of increased tariffs. Christchurch . had got itself into trouble by making it so cheap, "and had thought selfishly at that time, and not of how it would affect the rest of the country. The resolutions were then passed.