ALMOST DOUBLED

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 63, Issue 4462, 11 August 1941, Page 4

ALMOST DOUBLED

POWER ALLOCATION EXCEEDED. CONTROLLER’S ADVICE. The fact that the Board had an increase in the consumption of units of 9.8 per cent, for the week ended June 22, was intimated by the Elec tricity Controller in a communication to the monthly meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board held in Te Aroha last week. It was appreciated, however, continued the Controller, that during the past few weeks the Board had been able to approach very closely the allocated figure of 6.5 per cent. There was a cold snap for the week ended June 22, and that probably caused the abnormal increase. “At the same time, the fact that the load can increase to such an abnormal extent is indicative that there should be no slackening of your Board’s efforts to control the load,” concluded the Controller. MEASURES ADOPTED. This increase by 50 per cent., as notified by the Controller, had necessitated taking action in refusing to allow waterheaters to be connected until September 1, said the manager, Mr R. Sprague. A further appeal had been made to consumers to economise wherever possible in order to avoid drastic action being taken by the Board. “In my opinion, no further load should be connected by the authorities throughout the North Island' until the position has been clarified to the extent that existing loading will not be sacrificed for new loading which is being put on from day to day.” CONSUMERS’ CO-OPERATION. The Board had been advised earlier in the year that restrictions would be necessary, said the chief engineer, Mr N. G. McLeod. However, the actual allowance was not made known until the middle of May. Since then the Board had reasonably complied with the allocation, except in two very cold weeks, when the allocation was nearly doubled. “Until further advice is received from the Controller, it must be presumed that the 6i per cent, allocation will continue to apply to this Board,” said Mr McLeod, who added that consumers must still practice the utmost economy in order to avoid drastic i restriction.