SEVERER POWER CUTS CONSIDERED FOR WHAKATANE

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 94, 1 June 1949, Page 5

SEVERER POWER CUTS CONSIDERED FOR WHAKATANE

Unless there is an immediate decrease in the consumption of electricity at Whakatane severer restrictions are to be introduced similar to those experienced last year, the borough electrical engineer, Mr F. Lysaght, told the Beacon yesterday. The amount of power used has been rising steadily, and it appears that consumers are making veiy little effort to save.

Mr Lysaght said that the consumption was well over the quota and the way it had risen was phenomenal, he added, indicating that few people were bothering about trying to save. > From a perusal of individual accounts it was obvious to officers of the electrical department that certain consumers were using electric heaters. These are totally prohibited in Whakatane and council inspectors are now to begin an inspection of premises. Offenders are liable to total disconnection of all electrical power, Mr Lysaght warned.

In spite of, the cold weather, when more power was used, consumption had to be kept down. Mr Lysaght askpd that all consumers make an effort to use jas little electricity as possible, especially in the peak hours during the week from 4.30 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Unless less power was used cuts similar to those imposed last year would have to be introduced.