ELECTRICITY CUT.

Grey River Argus, 21 March 1947, Page 5

ELECTRICITY CUT.

One Fifth In North Island DISCRETION FOR POWER ■ AUTHORITIES ' RADIO HOURS HALVED

(Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, March 20. Hon. D. G-. Sullivan stated, that the emergency order gazetted to-day required all electric supply authorities in the North Island to reduce the weekly consumption oi electricity by 20 per cent, on the quota allocated by the Electricity Controller for this year. On behalf of the Minister of Works (Mr Semple), lie-said it. would be necessary for Hie order to remain in force until the electric supply position in the North Island was assured.

“At the beginning of this year, it was estimated that, until a new generating plant had been put into commission, the load would have to be restricted to a three per cent, increase on that of last year, but, despite all appeals to restrict consumption, the increase up to the middle of this month averaged more than eight per cent.”, said Mr Sullivan. “The lack of sufficient rain at the hydro stations, coupled with the excessive demand for power, has resulted in a most serious depletion in our water resources, and, in tiie abr sence of voluntary economies, it unfortunately became necessary to impose widespread power cuts. “The limiting the use of power by frequent and lengthy disconnections in the supply caused considerable inconvenience”, he added, “and consideration has therefore urgently been given by the Government to intrduction of measures whereby the load can be restricted to the required extent, but, at the same time, ensuring that the supply of electricity would, as far as practicable, be available for most essential purposes”. Mr Sullivan said that serious consideration has been given to a proposal to prohibit the use of electricity for domestic electrical thermal hot water services. The conclusion had been reached, however, that, to make this provision mandatory, could operate harshly in certain districts where all, or a substantial part, of the necessary saving could be effected by other means 1 . It, therefore, had been determined to delegate to the electric authorities the necessary powers to arrange the adjustment in the way best suited to the needs of their consumers, but with the proviso that the disconnection of hot water services could be made if such a course were considered unavoidable by the Supply Authority. It had also been necessary to provide in the Order that, unless means of achieving the required reduction decided upon by the supply authorities were effective, then it would become mandatory upon the electric supply authorities to disconnect immediately all electric thermal hot water services for domestic purposes. “The Government, too, has given very full consideration to various suggestions received for the saving of power, such as a complete shuttingdown of the broadcasting stations, except for very limited hours; the closing of the shops at an earlier hour; the prohibition of shop window lighting; and of the flood lighting of buildings and sports areas; a substantial reduction of the street lighting, etc.”, he said. “Shop window lighting and the flood lighting of buildings are already prohibited, except to a very limited extent, and further inductions in these directions will be matters for consideration by supply authorities, to whom the necessary powers are delegated under the Order. As a contribution to the total saving, it is unfortunately necessary to restrict the hours of broadcasting still further to a total of six and a-half hours each day. Until further notice, broadcasting will be limited to the hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.; 1.30 p.m. to 2.30 p.m.; and 6.30 p.m. to 10 p.m., from Mondays to Fridays, inclusive.

“Up to the present, the power used for street lighting purposes has been limited to 80 per cent, of the power used 'in 1940, but in future the consumption of electricity for this purpose must be still further reduced, making a total of a fifty per cent, reduction.

“The difficulty of the problem before the Government is that numerous essential industries must be maintained with sufficient electricity. Consequently, the freezing works, dairy factories, milking sheds, cool stores, and also hospitals are being safeguarded to the maximum extent. “Why so much emphasis has been placed on domestic water heating is the fact that, of all the electricity used throughout the North Island, approximately 325,000,000 units of electricity, oi- 25 per cent, of the total, are used for that purpose. With this load, in some cases partially or even totally disconnected, the limited power available can be distributed to the better advantage of the community, “Provision has been made in the Order”, said Mr Sullivan, “for the chief executive officer of each supply authority to consider applications in his area of supply for the re-connec-tion of any water heating service which has been disconnected, and where thereby there has been created a substantial hardship, due to serious sickness or infirmity”.

Arrangements are being made by the Mines Department, the Railway Department, the Shipping Controller, and the Electricity Controller for additional supplies of coal to be made available for the steam plants at King’s Wharf, Auckland, and Evans Bay, Wellington, although it must be

recognised that this may mean a diversion of some supplies. from domestic and industrial requirements. “The Government deeply regrets the necessity for this emergency measure, but the reduced level of the lake caused by the excessive demand for power, and accentuated by drought conditions, renders no alternative possible. I sincerely trust the measures now being taken to restrict consumption will operate with a minimum of inconvenience to the public generally, and I wish to assure them that the restrictions will be removed at the earliest possible moment. I appeal to the public to cooperate with the supply authorities in carrying out these regulations. . “Finally”, said Mr Sullivan, “it would still be possible to minimise the restrictions and to limit the period if consumers will undertake reasonable economy in their individual households”.