POWER REVIEW NEXT WEEK

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27410, 24 July 1954, Page 2

POWER REVIEW NEXT WEEK

M.E.D. CONSUMPTION WELL OVER QUOTA

The ele&ricity committee of the Christchurch City Council would meet on Thursday to review the power position unless a drastic fall in water storage necessitated the meeting being held earlier, said the chairman of the committee (Cr. G. Manning) last evening. If the deterioration .in storage was maintained more drastic action to conserve power would probably have to be taken then, he said. Cr. Manning made a broadcast appeal to consumers last evening to reduce consumption so that further cuts might be avoided. In the 24 hours up to 9 a.m. yesterday, water held in storage in the South Island for power generation fell by 1,420,000 units to 72,470,000 units. In the Municipal Electricity Deoartment’s area, the allocation of power has been consistently exceeded this week. On Monday, consumption was 110 per cent, of the quota, on Tuesday 107 per cent., Wednesday 109.6 per cent., and on Thursday 111.5 per cent. Commenting on consumption on Thursday, the M.E.D.’s electrical engineer (Mr G. H. Battersby) said yesterday that the efforts to conserve power were “quite obviously totally inadequate.” Wherever inspectors were working they were keeping an eye on compliance with restrictions, said Mr Battersby. They had been authorised to warn once where a breach was observed, and if that warning was not heeded they could disconnect the circuit. RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED AT RANGIORA The power consumption in North Canterbury last week was about 10 per cent, above the quota. The power shortage committee of the North Canterbury Electric Power Board, which met to consider the position, decided that certain restrictions were necessary. They included a reduction of street lighting hours, the very sparing use of radiators for space heating, and the use of display signs and shop lighting only when shops were open. It was also decided that storage water heaters, if uncontrolled, be switched off by hand daily from 7 a.m. till 7 p.m., and that consumers with fuel water heaters be instructed to leave cylinders switched off altogether. The engineer-secretary of the board (Mr A. Buckingham) said that the position this year was more difficult. Nine limeworks in the district were all using more power this year than they did last year.