CRITICAL POSITION OF POWER SUPPLY

Putaruru Press, Volume XXVII, Issue 1362, 19 January 1950, Page 5

CRITICAL POSITION OF POWER SUPPLY

BOARD'S STATEMENT Allocation Already Exceeded In a statement notifying the Thames Valley Power Board’s supply position for the next two years the manager, Mr. R. Sprague, said it would be 1952 before any additional power could be generated by the State ir Hydro-electric Department, and his board had been rationed for some years past and would be until Maraetai came into operation. The allocation for the year ended 1950 was four per cent, over the year 1949, but owing to the very heavy dairying season increased power under that heading had reached 24 per cent, to factories and farmers. Allocation already had been exceeded by 1.6 per cent. In other words the board used over four million units more than were allocated. That meant the allocation for 1950 had already been exceeded, and the board would no doubt be compelled to reduce same either by rationing to consumers or by periodical blackouts in supply. Mr. Sprague appealed to consumers to economise as much as possible and reduce the size of appliances, in order that blackouts could be kept to a minimum. The power position was critical, and if a dry spell was experienced the position would i, be chaotic. The board was endeav•w ouring to keep the supply intact as much as possible in order that con-, tinuity of supply could be given to primary producers. Consumers could assist to a very large extent by checking up on the use of lamps, and the number in - Waste of electricity in ranges and waterheaters and all apparatus should be eliminated.