SUPPLY OF POWER

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 54, Issue 32630, 5 October 1945, Page 5

SUPPLY OF POWER

CRITICAL_PERIOD VALLEY POWER BOARD ALLOCATION EXCEEDED DISCUSSION BY THE MEMBERS “The power position will have to be seriously considered by the board owing to the fact that with the permits still outstanding for supply, that we have now exceeded our allocation and from statements made by the Public Works Department, there is no possibility of any additional supply from Karapiro until the end of 1947, which is two years,” reported the manager, Mr R.

Sprague to the October meeting ■of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board. “Next winter will apparently be the most critical period for the supply position and I would ask the board’s instructions, whether they wish to give additional supply to consumers and jeopardise continuity of service which would mean cut-offs by the department from time to time during the winter period; or shall they rigidly adhere to restriction which would ensure a continuity of supply to all existing consumers,” continued the report. ’“Our main consideration is supply to primary production, especially • dairy farmers, who are tied in with the factories and other industries, and. I consider that it is most necessary ■ owing to the labour position on farms that supply to the milking motors ■should be made water-tight. This is a matter that will necessitate an instruction from the board, as to their policy.” Statement By Minister “Applications are being received from consumers for supply, necessitating construction past existing lines. There is a letter‘before you this day from the Thames County Council with regard to supply to settlers at Te Matai. This is an extension to Te Matai Bay which is an extension from Tapu on the Thames 'Coast. /“Only as recently as four weeks ago the Minister of .Works wrote to the ■Coromandel County Council assuring them that there will be no difficulty in' giving supply as soon as Karapiro functions which he considered should be in 1946. Now the department says it is impossible to have Karapiro in .operation before 1947. This information was published, in the Hauraki Plains Gazette and the board had no knowledge of any undertaking to give supply to the residents of Coromandel from the department, and consider that the board should ‘be kept advised, as to any undertaking given to prospective consumers, in their territory and adjacent to the board’s territory. “In my opinion I no dot anticipate any increase in the allocation of power for some years.” Action Of Other Boards Continuing, Mr Sprague said the board was exceeding its allocation by 80,000 units per month. Other boards, he pointed out, had exceeded their allocation for several years but each year these hoards received a percentage increase not on their last year’s allocation, but on their consumption. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board by metering waterheaters had been able to keep within its allocation and therefore had only received a percentage increase on its allocation.

In 1944 the board had referred this possibility to the Electricity Controller and had been assured that they would not be penalised as a result of the savings made by them. Now other boards were receiving a percentage increase granted on the excess load they had used and the Thames Valley was being penalised. Some boards had not attempted to effect saving in consumption by metering water heaters and yet they were still being granted a percentage increase each year on their last year load. Policy For Future The manager asked the- board for a .statement of the policy of the board for the future. At present the board was being handed out a very bad deal. Did the board wish to carry on with new commitments and risk a showdown, he asked? Mr C. C. Webb: What have we benefitted by effecting a saving? Mr Sprague: We are merely saving power for the other boards to use. Mr F. J. Mayn (with a smile): We .are helping our neighbours. Mr W. S. Goosman, M.P., said that

the power supply question was very serious and saving would have to be effected. He suggested that where two lights were used at present only one should be permitted. Mr Sprague said l that if radiators were eliminated all the saving necessary could be made. 'Lights would help very little. Board Did Its Utmost The chairman, Mr J. Price, said that all membters of the board had' been of the opinion that the 'board would be entitled to share equally in any increase available. This was, however, not the case and the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was suffering accordingly. The position was altogether unfair. “It means we have done out utmost to save power for the whole community while other boards have just gone on as usual,” added the chairman, who said he proposed to visit Wellington and see the .Controller of Electricity in company with Mr Gopsman; and after that he would place the whole matter before the Minister.

The chairman then asked the chief engineer, Mr -N- G. McLeod, a member of the North Island Control Committee, for an explanation as to why th« board was being penalised. “There is no reason whatever why we should not get our full share of power,” added the chairman. MrGoosman: There is no justice in it. Mr McLeod said that the regulations plainly set down what new com sumers any board could connect so they had little say in it. . The board had to connect new houses and primary producers. New Houses and Cowsheds Mr Sprague: The board could not •be made to connect if they had not got the supply available. Mr McLeod repeated that no board had the authority to connect other than primary producers and new houses. The controller had agreed that all connections made by other boards were justified. The Thames Valley Electric Power Board would exceed its allocation for the next eight weeks and then would be able to keep within it, added Mr McLeod. He assured the board that the control committee - was very fair. Circumstances had warranted 1 certain boards getting slightly more supply. He suggested that the board make application for reconsideration of its position and he was sure they would get a fair hearing. Mr IP. R. Hawke moved that the chairman accompanied ‘by the manager, go to Wellington and together with Messrs W. S. Goosman, A. S. Sutherland and J. Thorn, M’s.P., make representations to the Minister' for a further supply of electricity. Mr Hawke pointed out that the board had carried out recommendations from the Government and now was in an unfavourable position as a result of trying to help. Board Penalised Mr Mayn seconded the motion, saying he had been concerned at the possibility of the board being penalised ever since the regulations came into force. If the Minister did not give the board the consideration it was entitled to it should go on makingnew connections similiarly to ' other boards. Mr Webb asked Mr McLeod what were the connections made by the othei- boards which the controller considered were justified. Mi* McLeod: They were mainly war industries. (Mr Webb said that war industries could cover a wide range and he would like details. Mr McLeod said the industries connected had been producing munitions or supplies for the troops. It was decided that until the Minister had' been interviewed that the policy of the board be to make connections only to new houses and cowsheds.