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Every effort is being made to conserve storage, and unless the hydraulic position deteriorates considerabty there is every prospect of the demand for the winter of 1949 being met satisfactorily. Of particular importance to consumers is the adoption by some Supply Authorities of* a change in the methods of keeping within their allocations. Last winter several Supply Authorities put quota rationing schemes into effect, and in February, 1949, others adapted quota schemes to the particular conditions in their areas. In previous years excess consumption had been checked by power cuts, whereas the quota rationing scheme is planned to avoid such drastic means by giving each consumer a quota of units each month. The quota may be used by each consumer to suit his personal needs, and ensures that every consumer reduces consumption so that new consumers can receive a share of the power available. Although there are comparatively few of these schemes operating, they do plan that power is distributed equitably and, moreover, that it is available at all hours of the day and night. Their success may be measured by the fact that at the end of February, when quota rationing was getting under way, the excess consumption of all Supply Authorities' was 2-76 per cent., whereas at the end of March it had fallen to 2-13 per cent., and by the end of April had been reduced to 1-56 per cent. SOUTH ISLAND In the South Island no special restrictions were imposed throughout the year. An average allocation of 5-per-cent. increase on the unit consumption in 1947 was allowed, but favourable hydraulic conditions made it possible to meet the actual increase of 10-8 per cent. Allocations were not enforced during January to March, 1949, and will not be needed until river flows fall and storage must be drawn upon, when any restrictions required until the seasonal spring rise in September can be determined. As it will be essential for load increase to be limited until the new station at Roxburgh is in operation, the Electric-power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association set up a Power Shortage Advisory Committee representing the various Supply Authorities to assist the Electricity Controller in fixing power allocations. The Committee first met in March, 1949, and again in April. As high river flows are continuing, no special restrictions have been necessary to date. However, on the 27th April each Supply Authority was notified of its basic allocation for the year, and that the weekly allocation would be a plus or minus percentage on this when any restrictions might be determined. The fifth 15,000 kW. unit at Waitaki was put into operation in March, 1949. MARLBOROUGH-NELSON In. the Marlborough-Nelson district the average load increase during the next four years should be restricted to about 10 per cent, per annum. A Power Shortage Advisory Committee has been appointed and is considering how the future load can be kept within the supply. The addition of 20,000 kW. to the generating-capacity of the Cobb Power-station, planned to come into operation in 1952, will then relieve the position. NORTH ISLAND SYSTEM A. SYSTEM OPERATION AND LOAD DESPATCH 1. Load The maximum half-hourly load on the system was 396,200 kW. carried between 1700 and 1730 hours on Tuesday, the 20th July, 1948. Low frequency did not occur durina; the peak periods as happened last year, when the half-hourly peak wa 343,900 kW. between 1700 and 1730 hours on Monday, the 2nd July, 1947.

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