LAKE COLERIDGE SEVERELY TAXED BY POWER DEMAND

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19154, 21 August 1930, Page 6

LAKE COLERIDGE SEVERELY TAXED BY POWER DEMAND

“Whole Community Depends On It To Vital Extent,” Says Electrical Expert

THE OPINION that the present relationship between the demand for electric power in Canterbury and the capacity' of the Lake Coleridge station is a cause for anxiety is held Iw Mr E. Hitchcock, general manager of the Municipal Electricity Department. 44 At the present rate of increase,” he said, 44 the generator capacity of the Lake Coleridge plant will almost certainly be reached next winter.”

Referring to the proposal to divert the Acheron into Lake Coleridge, Mr Hitchcock said: “The water from, the Acheron, if diverted, would be of very limited value, and, in' my opinion, the money and energy would be put to much better use if- employed to expedite the completion of the Waitaki scheme. “ Lake Taxed.” “ The generating plant at Lake Coleridge has a capacity of 34,500 k.w., and the maximum load recorded to date is 30.500 k.w. Over a period of 3-ears the average increase in the maximum load has been approximately- 3000 k.w., and on those figures alone it will be seen that the demand next winter will be very near the available supply. With other people, I hold the opinion that more generation capacity was put in at the power house than there was water for, and that is borne out by the Tecords of the water levels taken at the lake. The figures disclose that, although the plant has not yet been working up to its capacity-, the lake has been severel>- taxed. The original level of the lake was 1607 feet above sea level, which was increased to 1672 feet by damming the outlet. According to the latest report the present level is 1659 feet. Jt is only fair to state that'it has been an abnormally dry season, and next winter, of course, the supply- may- be all right. Of Vital Importance. “ I don’t think that very many people realise the vital extent to which thjs community- is dependent upon Lake Coleridge. The city’s water supply and sewerage scheme are operated (

I by- electric pumping plants, anci, in addition, the hospitals, tramways, lighting S3*stem and innumerable domestic appliances are all dependent on electricity. With that degree of responsibility-, I do not think the relationship between the demand and the plant capacity at Lake Coleridge is consistent with prudence. “ These facts, -while they have their unfortunate aspect, are an interesting illustration of the fact that the council’s endeavour to give a supply at a low and attractive rate have been successful to an extent scarcely anticipated by those who have determined the capacity of the supply plant at Lake Coleridge. Diverting the Acheron. “ When the volume of water in the Acheron is considered, together with the possible cost of diverting it into the lake, the probable result obtained for the work involved would strongly suggest that a much better investment would be to apply the same time, expense and energy -to accelerating the completion of the Waitaki scheme.”