ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23995, 19 June 1941, Page 8

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

ECONOMY OR RATIONING SEVERE COLD INCREASES LOAD [BY TELEGRAPH —PRESS ASSOCIATION ] WELLINGTON, Wednesday An urgent appeal to residents in the southern portion of the North Island to conserve electricity as much as possible while the cold weather lasted was made to-day by the Electricity Controller, Mr. F. Tl M. Kissel, who said that, as at result of war conditions preventing the delivery of material, all generating stations were heavily overloaded. Because of the extremely cold weather in the southern part of the island, stations were being called on to bear an even heavier burden than usual, and considerable difficulty was being experienced in maintaining supply. An appeal was, therefore, made to all persons to save as much electricity as possible. The alternative was rationing. Unless economies in the use of electricity were effected, there was a grave danger of certain sections of the country having a cut-off in turn. When the southerly abated, the abnormal cold would cease, but there would still bo need for economy in the use of electricity right throughout the North Island as a war measure. APPEAL TO CONSUMERS CENTRAL WAIKATO BOARD (0.C.) HAMILTON. Wednesday An appeal to all consumers to make every effort to conserve electricity has been made by the Central Waikato Electric-Power Board, and a circular has been issued offering suggestions for reductions in the consumption of power and for avoiding waste. All users were asked to meet the requirements voluntarily and thus avoid compulsory rationing which might cause 'hardship.

When the matter was mentioned at a meeting of the Power Board to-day it was decided to issue further circulars stressing the need for economy in the use of electricity.

The controller of electricity, Mr. F. T. M. Ivissel, forwarded an authority to the board in which lie delegated certain powers to it to apply compulsion where necessary. The board was asked to limit its consumption to 8£ per cent above the 1940 figure.