DAYLIGHT SAVING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 3, Issue 285, 19 March 1941, Page 2

DAYLIGHT SAVING

| CUTTING PEAK POWER LOADS LICG 1S L.YTI ON POSSI P»LE There is said t<. be a big -weight hi official opinion in support ui' the extension of daylight .saving through out tlie year a= id for the saving of an Monr instead oi half an hour. It lias been estimated that bv keeping the clocks advanced half an hour during the winter months, the North Island winter peak iofid on the hydro-electric stations might be reduced from 300,000 to 280', 000 kilowatts; or, if daily daylight saving during the winter was incrcasied to the full hour, a saving off peak of 40,000 fl.w.—well over 50000 horsepowev—might be possible. That is, that a saving of more than 13 per cent could be attainable off peaks by daylight saving extension. The alternative to this economy is additional restriction in one form or another. Measured by units the consumption of power would show little decrease perhaps, but peaks present the major difficulty in power generation and distribution. If tho peak rises above generating capacity, obviously demand cannot be met; with peaks lowered or divided the difficulty is lessened, and in lowering and division of peaks daylight saving could contribute materially. There is reason to believe that the further daylight saving issue has gone. past the proposal stage and that consideration has been given the drafting of legislation to extend the period during which Summer Time applies with or without an increase ir. the daily saving and that, if such amending legislation is proceeded with, the amending Bill will nome before the House early in the session which opened last week.