ELECTRIC POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25238, 29 May 1943, Page 4

ELECTRIC POWER

CRITICAL POSITION IN NORTH SUPPLY BELOW DEMAND (P.A.) GISBORNE, May The critical position of the electric power supply, present and prospective, was emphasised in a report prepared by the Power Boards’ Association and presented to a meeting of the Poverty Bay Power Board to-day. * - The report stated that there was' no possible prospect of improving on this year’s power allocation, and next year, short of miracles, there would be no allocations for any increase at all. For the remainder of the war period it would be impossible with any degree of safety to take more load, and the existing load -Avas in considerable jeopardy. The post-war period would be reached /Avith a dammed-up load awaiting release, and with no prospect of meeting it. The report estimates that the present geherating capacity of 272,000 kilowatts is 100,000' kilowatts beloAv the immediate requirements and 200,000 below what is required to meet the immedi-. ate post-war situation. This position is attributed to the failure of generating capacity to step with the general increase in demand. The report explains that the power beards, ever since 1936, have stressed the seriousness of the position, but that the Ministerial and departmental view has been that the, existing and planned p’ani would be sufficient to meet the needs. It quotes Mr Semple in reply to representations in 1938 as saying thai the then position was due to an abnormal demand, and that a panicky attitude was not justified by the facts. It is stated that the net gain from the planned increase in plant Avill be only 7700 kilowatts, and that the whole future economy of the Dominion is likely to be jeopardised unless urgent and immediate action is taken to remedy the position.