POWER FROM HORAHORA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 6

POWER FROM HORAHORA

SUB-STATION OVERLOADED AUCKLAND REQUIREMENTS. PIFFICULTIES OF ADJUSTMENT. REQUEST BY THE DEPARTMENT. The Public Works Department has asked the Auckland Power Board to reduce its loading at the Penrose substation to this amount provided in the contract betfween the two bodies, namely, 5000 kw. The board has lately been drawing upon the department to the extent of 2300 to 2500 kw., which is now deemed to bo more than the sub-Station can supply, in spite of tie fact that Horahora is almost continuously overloaded, and supplementary supplies are being obtained from Tauranga and from the Grand Junction mine at "VS aihi. In' explaining the position from the board's point of view, the general manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, said that last winter considerable trouble was experienced when the board's system was running in parallel with Horahora, due to a surging effect set up between the two stations, due probably to load variations and the governing of the stations not synchronising. In consequence the centi"«l and the southern areas were separated, each being supplied independently during the hours of peakloading. The result was that the board was not obtaining the same control of the amount of power drawn from Horahora,' and the only suggestion he could advance for controlling that load was to continue th» parallel running of the two stations all the time. However, this would introduce the risk which prevailed last year. Conditions at Horahora had now tonicwhat altered, in that two other plants wet# supplementing the board's supply, and it might therefore be possible to rum the plants together satisfactorily. Should it not be satisfactory the board would have to reduce the load in a separate area connected with Horahora and it to the Kings wharf ThV chief engineer, Mr. A. O. Glasse, saili the alternatives were either to operate the systems in parallel or to take much less than 2000 kw. Mr. S. I. Crookes asked whether there was not an idle unit at the Hobson Street station which could be put into commission. The chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, said the possibility was being inquired into. ■ It was decided meanwhile to carry out. the' general manager's suggestion,