POWER SUPPLIES

Grey River Argus, 7 February 1941, Page 4

POWER SUPPLIES

North Island Problems WELLINGTON. February 6. 'The present difficulty in meeting the demands for electric power is indicated by the continued running of the steam station at Evans Bay, even though at this time of the year the demand is in comparison with winter loading low. In their statement 01. the'position at Auckland, members of the Auckland Power Board stressed the difficulty of building up coal stocks. The problem, as it affects Evans Bay, is different. The furnaces are part coal and part oil-fired, all the output over 10,000 kilowatts being from the oil-fired boilers. lhe stock of coal aimed at is 15,000 tons, but little progress is being made in the building up of even this small stock. During the past winter,' the monthly bill for oil fuel ran towards £20,000,’ and it is regarded as certain I that the station will have to run all cut during the winter. The probability of a restriction on the use of power, particularly for ornamental night advertising and street and highway lighting, and for water heating is freely spoken of as an alternative to the rationing of power. An extension of daylight saving could assist substantially in meeting the position, for the reduction in the peak demand may amount to 20,000 to 25,000 kilowatts. Though restrictions in the use of power for water-heat-ing could effect a great total saving, in the North Island thousands of homes have no alternative, and electrical water-beating i s regarded as essential on dairy farms so equipped. Moreover there would be great difficulty in exercising effective control, short of cutting out water-heaung wholly.