DRAIN ON POWER

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20774, 6 April 1939, Page 2

DRAIN ON POWER

SHORTAGE OF WATER STEAM PLANT IN ACTION (Special to Times) AUCKLAND, Thursday As a result of the unusually long dry spell and the progressively acute shortage of water for hydro-electric purposes throughout the North Island, the steam-generating plants at Auckland and Wellington have been called upon to carry a share of the general load over Easter. Urgent requests from the Public Works Department resulted in the King's W’harf plant in Auckland

taking over 10.000 to 12,000 killowatts (at 6 a.m. yesterday and the plant was (generating between 20,000 and 25,000 at the same hour this morning. Further complications have also arisen since both at Auckland and Wellington, difficulty is being experienced in the securing of the necessary coal. The Auckland ElectricPower Board is using reserve stocks and it is understood ihat a Wellington oil-fuel will have to be used, reducing the power output. Mr R. 11. Bartley, general manager of the Auckland board, stated that the shortage of water had become more severe during the past 24 hours, the flow into Lake Taupo being greatly reduced by the dry weather and the outflow being in consequence only 5 feet deep, instead of about 0 feet. These conditions affected both Arapuni and Hora Hora power-stations where the output has consequently fallen. Similar conditions obtained at Waikaremoana and Mangahao. The total shortage of power was estimated by Mr Bartley to be from 25,000 to 30,000 kilowatts. All of this could be supplied by the King’s Wharf plant. MORE SEVERE IN SOUTH AUCKLAND AREA POSITION Commenting on the shortage of water, an official of the Public Works Department at Hamilton stated to-day that while there was a shortage of water in the Auckland area, the position was not so acute as in the south of the North Island. Even with Arapuni Lake at its present low level, sufficient power could be generated from the Waikato stations, to supply the entire Auckland district to full requirements. Five turbines are in action at Arapuni and the secondary plant at Hora Hora is working to full capacity.