Threat Of Heavy Cuts In N.A. Power Board Area

Northern Advocate, 9 January 1948, Page 2

Threat Of Heavy Cuts In N.A. Power Board Area

“MONTHLY increases in our area continue to reach new records and it appears, if there is no amendment to the power allocation, that we and other boards will be having fairly substantial cuts.” The engineer of the North Auckland Power Board (Mr T. R. Overton) said this at a meeting of the board in Dargaville yesterday. “We are exceeding our allotment for the first week by 3.7 per cent,” he continued. “If our excess is.too high and we consume more than we are entitled to, power is chopped off in the winter —we must suffer at some stage'if we use too much.”

Mr R. G. Murdoch said that the 93 community lights in the Dargaville business area, which had recently been put back into service, should be cut ■out if the power position was so drastic.

A further line had been pegged and flagged on the Matapouri extension, added the engineer. Low tension and service lines on the Springfield extension were almost complete and surveying on the Mangapai South line would be continued early in the New Year. Line plotting and construction plans and prints had been taken off as required. Fifty-six permits for new installations and 86 for - extensions to existing installations had been issued. The number of new connections during the month was 60, and the total number of consumers to date 6320.

"It is necessary for people to realise the importance of saving power now to avoid severe cuts in the winter," said the chairman.

Submitting his report, the engineer said the only interruptions for the month were pre-arranged for the carrying out of alterations. Referring to the power unit allocations for 1948 the engineer said they had been worked out on a consumption curve above that of the restricted consumption of 1947.

Readings for the month of December produced £6491 compared with £6061 for the same month in the previous year, an increase of £429 or 7.1 per cent. This was a short reading month owing to the holidays, but the full two-monthly reading would produce a substantial increase over the same period in the previous year, the secretary (Mr S. P. Day) reported. “At a recent meeting of the executive of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association it was decided again to approach the Minister in charge of the Hydro-Electric Eepartment in an endeavour to obtain a higher rebate for 1947 and a rebate for 1946 to compensate for losses caused through restrictions in the supply of electricity,” he continued. PERMITS FOR POLES “The executive also appointed a special committee to discuss with the Counties’ Association and the Main Highways Board the proposals made by. the Minister in regard to the issuing of permits before poles can be erected on roads and streets. “In this connection a recent . mendment to the Public Works Act, 1928, for the declaration by the Governor General of any public highway as a ‘motor-way’ and further provides • that no tower, pole or other structure shall be placed thereon whether by the Crown, or by any local authority without the prior consent in writing of the Main Highways Board.”

REGULATING LOAD "Consideration has been given to the increase in each supply area from 1940, in population,' domestic consumers, commercial consumers, waterheaters, ranges, motors, and new dwellings. This means that some supply authorities will receive a total for the 12 months of more than 5 per cent over their 1947 consumption, while othei’s may receive less," he said.

“The allocations commenced in January, and are plotted weekly so that a check can be kept throughout the year. “Totals are brought forward each week and any excess in units used 1 during summer months will not be available during the winter.

“This method should work out as a fairer means of yearly load distribution somewhat in accordance with previous experience concerned but it remains to. be seen how it will work out in' our particular case where so much essential farm load is developing so, rapidly. MATAPOURI, SPRINGFIELD “It is clear at this stage that greater care must be taken in regulating load in the summer months particularly in March, April, and May."

During the month the board wrote to the State Hydro-Electric Department conveying thanks for the assurance that the second main transmission line to Northland was being treated as an urgent work and requesting that the provision of the third point of supply at Dargaville be also placed in the same category to enable the board to improve the quality of its service to consumers. SHIPPING TROUBLES

A letter was received from Messrs Richardson, McCabe and Co. explaining the shipping difficulties encountered in their endeavours to complete the contract with the board for the supply of hardwood poles and hoping to be able to deliver early in 1948. The company also advised the board of the increased freight rates on hardwood timber and poles which it had no alternative but to pass on to the board.

The Whangarei Heads branch of the Federated Farmers wrote stating its main complaint was with the single phase supply and the fluctuating current and in consequence requested the board to change the line to three phase. * Mr Mac Kay advocated 1 the making of the line a three phase one. The engineer said the dissatisfaction was mainly from people having milking machines, which were very few on that line. Speaking of voltage he said that everything'was blamed on to it. If a belt slipped or a farmer forgot to oil his motor, he blamed the voltage. TAUKIKURA MEETING

In was decided, on Mr A. Clarke’s motion, that the engineer and the chairman (Mr A. V. Page), and any jDoard members who could attend, should meet the consumers at the Taurikura Hall and report to the board at its next meeting. Mr Clarke added that many people without any electricity at all would be content to have only a one phase line, and this must be taken into consideration before anything was done to the Whangarei Heads line.