NEW-LOAD LIMITS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22210, 21 December 1946, Page 2

NEW-LOAD LIMITS

QUOTAS OF POWER REPEAT ON LAST YEAR JOLT FOR P.B. CONSUMERS Consumers of elcctric-powcr in the Gisborne distiOrr are due for a jolt early in the new year, when requirements of the electricity controller are put into effect with respect to loading limitations. The jolt, however, may be a moderate introduction to what is likely to prove an austerity autumn-and-wintcr period for hydro-electric power users in general.

The P.B. Electric-Power Board has been advised by the electricity controller. Mr. F. T. M. Kissell. that the permissible increase in load as from •January 4 will be 3 per cent, only, subject to downward revision if abnormal conditions in the water-storage areas require it. The increase will be calculated upon the highest weekly consumption in the corresponding weeks of 1944, 1945. and 1940. During the past two and a half months, throughout which period the controller lias made no move to repress the development of load. Gisborne consumers have used an average of 10.13 per cent, more units than in the corresponding weeks upon which the permissible increase of 3 oer cent, would have been calculated—if controls had been maintained.

The position was outlined in a letter to the board from Mr. Kissell, who pointed out that during the coming year it was hoped to complete the new stations at Karapiro and Kaitawa. In the meantime, the allocation of power would continue on the present basis, namely a 3 per cent, increase each week, based upon the weekly consumption of 1944. 1945. or 194 ti. Horahora Out: Karapiro In

To supply this increase the department would require at least average river flows next year, and moreover it would have to draw heavily upon storage during the summer months. If hydro conditions were below average, or a dry summer was experienced, the increase in load would have to be reduced below 3 per cent. “Probably during March we shall lose the output of Horahora, as the station will be submerged. This will represent a loss of 12,000 k.w. on peak and an average of 1,800,000 units a week for several weeks until the Karapiro lake is filled and the new installation tested out,” stated Mr. Kissell's letter. “Unfortunately! this is a time when the load commences to rise steeply. “According to weather and hydro conditions, the supply position during the next few months until Karapiro is operating may therefore bo critical. I have to ask. .therefore, that your consumption of power from now onwards and until further notice is held strictly to the 3 per cent, increase: or is further reduced in accordance with any directions issued from time to time by the load dispatcher at Hamilton.” The controller referred to the conditions of last winter and the steps taken to overcome the severe shortage of power which then developed. Since September 1, he added, generation had averaged 8 per cent, increase, this having been allowed to continue only because particularly favourable hydraulic conditions prevailed in the Waikato basin.

Heavy Draw-off at Waikaremoana “The effect of last season’s drought on water supplies at Arapuni and Waikaremoana was felt most severely, but we were most fortunate after July in experiencing an extremely rapid recovery at Taupo, which to-day is within 9in. of being full,’ continued Mr. Kissell. “At Waikaremoana, however, the heavy siphoning of water necessary to make good the loss of output at Arapuni during the winter has resulted in the level being at present 12ft. below spillover. “The tunnel into Waikaremoana should be ready for use before next winter, and control over storage will then permit full regulation of the output of the lower stations. However, had Taupo not recovered so soon, and had we not been able to draw on storage at Waikaremoana with the prospect of further storage being available shortly, we could not have met the heavy demand during the spring months. “As long as we do not have a second dry year I am confident that next year will not be a particularly difficult one, except perhaps in the first few months. No reductions in load beyond the allocations set will be asked for unless it is essential to do so. and if those circumstances do eventuate I hope .that all supply authorities will co-operate to the full extent necessary.” Foreboding of Critical Weeks The board yesterday received the letter with some forebodings as to how the strict control envisaged by Mr. Kissell would affect consumers. The secretary, Mr. R. P. Baigent, stated that since October there had been occasions when the load increase was much 'in excess even of 10 per cent. There had been an unprecedented demand for essential power installations in the past three months, and the industrial load added in that, time represented no less than 156 horse-power. The release of army huts for use as dwellings had further increased the demand, for the board had no option but to provide service for new dwellings where no other means of heating and cooking was available.

Members of the board agreed that the position should be made clear to the public at once that economies would have to be practiced from the beginning of the new year, if arbitrary restrictions upon the electric-power supply were to be avoided. It was certain that the consumption could not continue at its recent level, even it drought conditions did not develop in the watersheds affecting the storage of water for hydro-electric purposes. Present indications were that drought conditions could not be ruled out of the prospect, and if they developed it would not be possible to avoid restrictions much in excess of the reduction from 10.18 per cent, to 3 per cent, over last year's reverse figures.