ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18350, 14 September 1921, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

RESTRICTIONS ON USEES., POSITION OUTLINED BY CR SHACKLOCK. For some time past a good deal of criticism has been levelled against the Electric Power and Lighting Department of the City Corporation for the i-estrictions which it lias been compelled to impose upon consumers. It is suggested in certain quanta chat ■ local industries are being ' hampered in their operations because they cannot extend their plant by the installation of additional electrical apparatus, and/it is further urged that the department is treating ratepayers unfairly because at the -present time it has vetoed the installation in private houses of electric heaters and electric irons. ,The gravamen'of the charge against' the department is contained in the fact that those who have the first right to the use of the electric supply are denied that right whereas the department has extended its operations to Port Chalmers,- and at the present time is carrying out further extensions to Milton and Portobello. Or Shacklook, chairman of the Eleotrio Power and Lighting Committee was interviewed by a Daily Times reporter yesterday in respect to!these matters.- mkT jii reply to a direct question he stated tlifit

the present loading on Waipori was lighter than it should be at this time of the. year. , This was accounted for by the fact that owing to the general slackness of trade consumers were not using the same amount of power that they required last year, or/ the amount they would be using if the conditions were normal. Consequently, the department had power to spare at the moment, but if anything happened to 'bring on the maximum load (which is always at its heaviest in, the middle of the winter) there would bo no surplus of power. ""! ho department could take on new 'consumers only 'on me distinct understanding'.‘that it nad the right to cut them off wJienevar it was necessary to do so.' New consumers

were asked to accept the department’s terms'which meant that they could be out off with 24 hours’ notice?, but rather than do without the power many of them were taking it on that condition. 1

In reply to a question whether any industries were being held up because .they could not obtain a ! supply of power from Waipori, Cr Shaoklock said he knew of none that had been placed in this position. In the case of one ton which had- placed its requirements for extensions at,' about 50 h.p., arrangements had' been made for it to obtain the unused surplus’ of certain other firms and a satisfactory agreement had been concluded. 'Of course that ‘ land, of thing could not be done to any extent, but it. could be used as a means of tiding over consumers until the conditions improved. Cr i ShackloCk went on to say that it was true that restrictions had been placed upon the .installation of electric irons and .heaters,. Juit the position was this: if a man had ah electric motor running in his factory it was an easy matter to' etitOrco the department’s conditions that, if nebe'ssiiry, it should be out off within 24 hours; but they could not do that in regard to private residences. An inspector standing in the street’ could hear a motor working, but the department could not for a variety of reasons send its men round private houses to pull out the fuses for electric, irons ox heaters. ' , '

As regards the contract for a supply, of power to 'Tilton there was perhaps some justification!-' for complaint by the city ratepayers. but it had to be remembered that this contract had been signed two -years ago, and a contract had to be fulfilled. Britain had gone to war over a contract. At the time the agreement with Miiton was signed the department l expected that it would be able to get its orders foe-plant fulfilled and to have that plant' installed and in working order by the present time. In respect to the Portobello supply these consumers were being put on a time switch and ; would obtain current from; 5 'p.m. till 7.30 a.m. Between those hours they could use ail the power they liked, and they could also use it all day on Saturdays and Sundays.

Reviewing the position generally Or Shaddock stated that the present supply of current at Waipori was obtained from six 1000 k.w. unit generators. Early' this year tenders had been reoaived for-a 3000 k.w. generator, but when these .were opened the commercial situation - was such that the Finance Committee of the City Council did not see its way to recommend the council to accept any of the tenders, and the whole matter was held up; At the last'meeting of the Electric Power arid Lighting Committee the engineer was,- in- ; structed to communicate with the tenderers asking them to cable early in December their lowest quotations for the plant- for

which they had tendered. “I am. of opinion,” continued Cr Shaddock, /“that in the event of the Finance Committee' knowing the exact position of the renewal; loan at that time it will be in a position . to direct its attention to the raising of •a; new loan for increasing the plant at Waj-v pori. By this means I hope to be to order the necessary new plant in January of next year. I believe that by that tfrne the manufacturers will be in a position to

give prompt deliveries and if that" is so the plant should be arriving here six or seven months after being ordered. That will enable us to take advantage of, the ■; summer of 1922-1923 for the transport and ; erection of the plant at Waipori power station. I am quite satisfied that viewed from the standpoint of price the council will not suffer by waiting.” In conclusion, Cr Shaddock stated that the Electric Power and Lighting Department could fulfil all die contracts which it had entered into. When the new rotary condenser at Half-way Bush was running it would be possible to review the whole position, and, if any of the restrictions could be removed it would be done.