DRASTIC CUTS IN ELECTRIC POWER

Wanganui Chronicle, 11 March 1947, Page 5

DRASTIC CUTS IN ELECTRIC POWER

CONSUMERS WARNED TO ECONOMISE

(P.A.) Wellington, March 10 Even more drastic cut s in electric power than have already been imposed are likely in the North Island during the remaining' autumn months unless the position is greatly relieved by sufficient rainfall to replenish the catchment areas supplying water to the generating stations, or by strict observance of appeals to consumers to economise considerably in the use of electricity.

This critical situation, which will be particularly serious for about a month after the Horahora station on the Waikato River is submerged by the filling of the Karapiro dam and until the new Karapiro station can supply power, was officially predicted to-day. Although no official announcement, is available as to when the Karapiro dam is to be filled, it is expected that this will be done very soon. The disappearance °f Horahora under the rising waters of the lake so formed will mean the loss of 12,000 kilowatts generated by that station on the peak load, but a few weeks later the first 30,000-kilowatt generating unit at Karapiro will be brought into operation. The installation of two additional similar units is expected to follow at about six-monthly intervals. The difficulties of the power situation in th e North Island were discussed by an official of the Slate HydroElectric Department. He said that in December, having regard to plant available, the department had stated that in the early months of this year, before the Karapiro supply was available, it could provide a 3 per cnet. increase in power to meet the higher demand. However, it would be necessary to have average river flows this year and to draw heavily on storage through the summer months. Normally the latter would not be considered, but it was done.

Having regard to the development of the new stations at Karapiro and at Kaitawa, on Lake Waikaremoana,, the department had also informed the supply authorities that, especially after Horahora was flooded, in the event of a dry year it gould not give the 3 per cent, increase and pointed out that, consequently, this autumn might be a very critical period. Actuary the demand had not kept to 3 peri cent, higher allocation. For January, February and the beginning of March there had been a 9 per cent, increase.

In January at Taupo there was about 2i inches of rain, as compared with the normal long-term average rainfall of 61 inches, while in February there was two inches of rain as compared with the average of 5c inches. At Waikaremoana the average rainfall for January was 6.9 inches, as compared with the actual fall this January of 5.6 inches.

“We have not had sufficient rain to make up the draw-off of storage,” said the official. “The stock-pile of power has just Deen eaten up due to demand, and far too quickly at that. We have now reached the position when we have to eke out what we have in storage until the new station comes in. Supply authorities have been told to redude consumption immediately to their allocations, and to any further reductions below those allocations that might be necessary until Karapiro is available. One condition can change that, and that is a complete break in the weather, which is a matter over which we have no control, or a complete response by every electricity consumer to appeals to save power in every way possible. There should be no great difficulty in consumers economising in the use of power. The increase of 9 per cent in demand meant that it had been necessary io develop 12,000.009 units more than the Department knew should be provided-”

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