N.I. POWER SHORTAGE

Grey River Argus, 17 May 1946, Page 3

N.I. POWER SHORTAGE

LAKES VERY LOW Wellington Exceeds Quota WELLINGTON, May 16. The general manager of the Electricity Department of the City Council, Air L. B. Hutton, said that power would be cut off in suburban areas as follows:—To-day, 4 to 5 p.m.; tomorrow, 8 to 9 a.m. and 9 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 1.30 to 2 a.m.; 8 to 9 a.m.; 2 to 4 p.m.; Sunday, 1.30 to 3 a.m,; 2 to 4 p.m.; Monday, 8 to 9 a.m. 9 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, 1.30 to 3 a.m., 4 to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, 8 to 9 a.m.; 9 to 10 p.m. In the city areas, powei’ will be cut between 1.30 to 2.30 a.m. on Saturday, 1.30 to 3 a.m. on Sunday-, and 1.30 to 3 a.m. Tuesday. These measures, for a period of a week, are in response to an instruction from the State Hydro-Electric Division for a cut of about 20 per cent, in the" council’s area. The reduction asked for was at the rate of 120,000 units per day, said Mr Hutton, apd when it was considered that the ordinary consumption was about 500,000 units per day, it would be realised just how substantial the cuts’ would need to be “The number of consumers of lighting may be set down as approximately 40,000 within the city,” he said. “If each of these consumers could use one less light than is normally burning, or that is unnecessarily burning, the saving each week would be 50,000 units, or 2,500,000 units per year for lighting alone.”

NORTH ISLAND LACK OF RAIN. P.A. WELLINGTON, May 16. The Chief Electrical Engineer, Mr. A. F'. Davenport, stated to-day that there has been no improvement in the general power situation throughout the North Island in the last 24 hours.

Mr. Davenport said that there had been light showers only at both Lake Taupo and Lake Waikaremoana. Lake Taupo had risen very slightly, but Lake Waikaremoana was still falling.

The local twenty per cent, reduction, he explained, had been ordered as a penalty because Wellington had exceeded its quota last week. It is understood that the excess was approximately twenty per cent. No reduction greater than twenty per cent, is contemplated at present. Mr Davenport added, however, that if the present electric power cuts fail to produce the required saving of 20 per cent, in consumption in the Wellington area during the current week, they may be expected to continue.