WHAKATANE STILL EXCEEDS POWER ALLOCATION

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 9, 13 March 1950, Page 5

WHAKATANE STILL EXCEEDS POWER ALLOCATION

The consumption of power at Whakatane was still well above the borough's quota and with the colder weather and shorter days approaching it was imperative that every effort be made by all consumers to save wherever possible, the electrical engineer, Mr F.. W. JLysaght, said last night, when discussing the present power position. Unless there was a drop in consumption he said he could only see cuts ahead—and very soon. Mr Lysaght pointed out that the position this year with regard to the supply of water in the x main lakes was considerably worse than last year and he\ could not foresee any immediate improvement. While there had been some rain it was not nearly enough to satisfy the demand. At Whakutane in the last few weeks consumption of power has soared and in the last few days -when lights have had to be used earlier than usual there has been an extra demand which, on some nights, has clashed in with the commercial load.

The position has not been improved by the many new houses that have been connected to the supply. Although the Borough Council is more or less forced to •connect any new buildings, especially dwellings, there is no increase In the allocation for the town and so a further strain is added to the already strained load. The position rests with Whakatane consumers, who have to save and use less power wherever possible to make up for the extra demand. It probably seems unjust somewhere to most people but there is no other solution. Mr Lysaght emphasised that the

power saved now the more Wfhakatane would have to use dur-

ing the winter. He realised that consumption would probably rise from now on but with care 'by every consumer to save wherever possible he thought the borough might be able to go quite a long lime before quts would be consid-

ered. But first, it was necessary to •cut down the already fairly large slice now registering over the allocation.