May Cut Off Heaters

Northern Advocate, 4 June 1947, Page 5

May Cut Off Heaters

Electric heaters are likely to be barred in Whangarei Borough. This was indicated at a meeting of the Borough Council last night by the Mayor (Mr W. Jones). He said that the electricity load control committee had so far staved off cutting off heaters but he was sorry to say that the question would have to be considered.

The 5 per cent restoration had not meant much because of the extension of broadcasting hours. Whether it would be possible to allow use of heaters for about an hour in the mornings to heat cold shops and offices would be for the committee to decide. If the load was not kept down worse might happen. - j Cr J. F. Johnson said that heaters were also needed in homes, particularly where there were young children and elderly people. The radio was only a luxury and could be done without so that people could have use of heaters in their homes.

Street-liehting times might also have to be altered, said the Mayor. To deal with electricity supply emergencies, Crs S. J. Snow and M. W. Porter were added to the electricity load control committee which previously comprised the Mayor and the electrical engineer (Mr W. J. Dawson). spc Increase In Danger (Special) WELLINGTON,-This Day. The recent 5 per cent concession made in the supply of power may be removed unless consumption is reduced.

Cold weather over the southern part of the North Island has caused such an increase in consumption that the Electricity Controller (Mr Kissel sen: this warning to supply authorities today. Last week’s consumption figures showed that, in spite of the 5 per cent increase in allocation, the amount of power used was 1,240,000 units above the over-all allocation.

For the week ended midnight last Sunday, the first week during which the increased quotas, were in operation, the allocation was 24,586,000 units, but consumption rose to 25,826,000 units. Heavier Cuts In S.l.

(Spec.) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. This week the cut in the South Island power is 20 per cent, but next week it will be 30 per cent. This was announced today by the acting district engineer (Mr E. E. James).

In other words, the South Island next week will be on a 70 per cent quota based on last year’s consumption, compared with 80 per cent thisi week.

Power allocations to supply authorities, said Mr James, would be i*eviewed every week and might be altered from time to time.

Supply authorities have not yet studied the effect of the' new allocations, but they believe that it will be necessary at times to cut power off completely in individual sub-station areas.