POWER SUPPLY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 66, Issue 5595, 22 March 1943, Page 2

POWER SUPPLY

NEED TO CONSERVE BASIS OF CHARGE DISCUSSED The payment of bulk supply on a three-monthly peak load basis, restricted by unit allocation, was the subject of a short discussion at Friday’s meeting of the Te Awamutu Electric Power Board, and the following resolution was passed on the motion of Messrs de Coek and •Rhodes:—“That the secretary write to the Electric Power Board Association notifying that it is this Board’s; opinion that the loss oi revenue from off-peak units owing to present restrictions calls for a review of the basis of charge by the Public Works Department for power supply, and that this Board asks the Association to make representations in the matter to the Government.” CONTROL OF LOAD A circular letter from the Electric Power Boards’ and Supply Authorities’ Association disclosed the gravity of the bulk power position. In some areas defence requirements were taking such a large proportion of the allowable increase that in many other areas which were unaffected, or only slightly affected, the increase allowable would be very small. The Association asked the Board to advise any special local conditions to be taken into account when fixing load control for this year. A further circular urged that the utmost be done to conserve power. RADIATOR RESTRICTIONS In a circular letter to the Power Board the Dominion Electricity Controller, Mr F. T. M. Kissel, states that the restrictions which were imposed upon the use of electric radiators to keep down afternoon peak loading last winter will be reimposed during the coming winter. It may be necessary also to increase those restrictions.

Last year an aggregate increase of 5 per cent over the 1941 allocation of bulk power was allowed by the Public Works Department to electric power supply authorities. It is expected that for the winter of this year an increase of 5 per cent over the 1942 total, or 10 per cent above 1941, will be allocated. However, this increased supply will be subject to modification if a dry period should affect the level of the lakes.

Mr Kissel said there was an additional 20,000 kilowatts generator now in operation at Waikaremoana, but this addition to the power-producing plant of the North Island was barely sufficient to keep pace with the demand, and allowed jio margin for extra supply. There "was always the possibility of a generating plant going out of action for a period at one or other of the hydro-electric stations.