POWER SAVING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26769, 12 May 1948, Page 4

POWER SAVING

FURTHER RESTRICTION USE OF WATER-HEATERS VISITS BY , INSPECTORS In an effort to save electricity, a further restriction on the use of domesitc water-heaters was imposed by the Dunedin Emergency Committee yesterday. Consumers in the Dunedin area are now asked to ensure that their water-heaters are switched off between 7.30 a.m. and 1.30 ip.m. each day. All other restrictions on the use of electricity, imposed by the committee last week and published in the Daily Times last Wednesday, are to remain in force. The committee stated that inspectors would be calling at homes throughout the week, including Saturday and Sunday, and the hot-water systems of offenders would be disconnected for “an indefinite period.” At the conclusion of the meeting of the Emergency Committee yesterday a statement was released to the Daily Times by the chairman, Mr L. M. Wright.

“ From a statement tabled at the meeting by the city electrical engineer, Mr G. T. Edgar, it is apparent that manufacturers and retailers are saving the required 10 per cent, in the use of power, but the amount required from domestic water-heating is not sufficient to enable Dunedin to save the necessary units,” the statement said. “For this week domestic hotwater systems must be switched off between 7.30 a.m. and 1.30 p.m. daily.

“ Inspectors have been instructed to call at anv period of the week, including Saturday or Sunday, with authority to disconnect hot-water systems for an indefinite period. , “ Many consumers have inquired why restrictions were not imposed during the centenial celebrations, when the city was a blaze of light,” the statement continued. “ During this period electric power was supplied mainly from Waitaki, when water not used flowed over the, top of the dam. “It is important to ask for the cooperation of all consumers,” the statement added. “In Christchurch, waterheating is allowed for only 10 hours a day. whereas Dunedin has been able to allow consumers 18 hours, a day. With full co-operation, we can continue to carry on with very little real inconvenience to all sections of the comm “A point of interest,” the statement concluded, “is that the tramways use 5,000.000 units of electricity a year while domestic water-heating requires 40,000,000 units.”