Voluntary Power Cuts

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 31, 19 March 1948, Page 5

Voluntary Power Cuts

Electrical Engineer’s Call For Co-operation “It is up to the consumers to make sure that Whakatane does not exceed its electricity allocation, by voluntary power cuts,” said Mr F. W. Lysaght, Borough electrical engineer, when questioned about the recent demand by the Electricity Controller, Mr F. T. M. Kissel, that a five per cent cut be made in all power consumption.

To do this, Mr Lysaght added, the public of Whakatane would have to reduce the use of lights, and electrical appliances to the minimum. At present there was a 15 hour a day limit on the use of electric water-heaters, but if the public did not meet the new reduction, then the local authorities would have no alternative but to impose a longer •cut, also to institute nightly lighting cuts. Whakatane has had a water-heat-er restriction in operation much longer than any other area and by so doing is in excess of its quota by only six per cent. However, Mr Lysaght said, consumers will have to bring consumption down to the quota as all amounts used in excess of that will be added to the winter reductions.

When asked why the power was in such a poor position Mr Lysaght said that it was on account of the shortage of water in the main storage lakes, Waikaremoana and Taupo. Waikaremoana he added, was down 25 feet and Taupo down 3 feet.

The Auckland auxiliary stations at Evans Bay and King’s Wharf are also in a desperate position due to the coal shortage and have approximately a week’s supply in stock; the Penrose station is in a similar position on account of the diesel oil shortage. However, Mr Lysaght, said a new unit was to be started some time this week at the Waikaremoana scheme. This is one of the two 19,000 kilowatt machines at the Kaitawa station, and with this addition, he concluded, the stringency of the cuts should at least be eased a little.