POWER SUPPLY

Waikato Times, Volume 193, Issue 22203, 24 November 1943, Page 2

POWER SUPPLY

PROBLEMS CONTINUE

POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENTS Although it is six months since a most critical power supply problem developed in the North Island and the public was urged to make stringent use of electricity when the demand was heaviest ‘during the winter, evidence of restriction still lingers. Hamilton still lacks the normal bright appearance of its streets with display and flood-lighting still curtailed. Broadcasting stations in the Dominion observe the half-hour silence during the evening.

Power board authorities do not view the prospects for next winter with any degree of confidence. Last winter was considered bad enough but with the sale of electricity ever increasing even under present conditions the demand will inevitably increase. It is considered improbable that there will be sufficient new plant brought into operation in the interim to appreciably relieve fhe critical situation that promises.

Difficult Year Ahead While the Central Waikato Electric Power Board was endeavouring to observe the strictest economy in its supply to its consumers it was not possible to limit fresh sales completely, said the engineer-manager, Mr J. R. Ellis. In some cases sales were essential and each case was being judged on its merits. Mr Ellis foresaw a difficult year and said it was quite evident that the public would be subjected to severe restriction in their use of electricity. He voiced the opinion that the metering of water heaters would have the effect of making people less wasteful and would result in some saving. Tne consumption of electricity in the North Island increased from 1936 to 1941 at an average rate of 14.9 per cent each year. The disparity I between consumption and power generation development is immedii ately indicated when it is realised | that the hydro-electric plant has been | increased at an average rate of 9 ! per cent over those six years. The i existing maximum demand in the ! North Island last winter was estimated at 280,000 kilowatts, which under the available generating plant of 280,000 kilowatts meant that there was no margin for possible contingencies. It is with a view to | increasing the development of power !on the Waikato river that Public j Works Department engineers are ! carrying out clearing operations in | the bed of the river immediately be--1 low the outlet of Lake Taupo.

Securing Smoother Flow In the past the output of the Ara- ; puni station has suffered in the early ' winter months, at a time when the demand was rapidly increasing, ow- ! ing to the fall of the lake level and ; a decline in the necessary flow for ! the station. For its operations a ; flow of 7000 cusecs is required. Now many rocky and sandy bars are be- ; ing eliminated to give the water a smooth mill-race flow to a point where it plunges onward through the rocky delile which ends in the Huka Falls. The view is held that the importance of ensuring an even supply of water from Lake Taupo throughout the year cannot be overemphasised, particularly as the operation of seven or eight generating stations is proposed as far as tne Huka Falls.'