Import Limit Bar To Board’s Work

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31086, 15 June 1966, Page 5

Import Limit Bar To Board’s Work

Any continuing restraint on the importation of essential equipment could result in postponement of some aspects of the board’s works programme, the engineer-manager of the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board (Mr S. E. Slatter) reported to the board yesterday. He said the supply industry had been asked to reconsider its requirements for the forthcoming year and reduce, if possible, the demand on overseas funds.

“Schedules for licences are based on previous history as well as future consumer requirements, and we feel they are realistically based,” Mr Slatter said. “An important consideration is that rising prices, particularly for copper, will mean less equipment from the available funds.

"The value of the imports listed in the 1966-67 achedule is £106,950.” He said that copper wire had recently been quoted at £5OO a ton. Not long ago it had been £3OO a ton. If the price continued high it was possible that a substitute material for wire would be considered. Vandalism Mr Slatter reported that further vandalism occurred in the board’s area in recent weeks. “A shutdown of an extensive rural area was arranged for Sunday, June 5, to replace shattered 33 k.v. insulators in Runn’s Crossing road. Rolleston,” he said. “On May 25 a section of industry in Sockburn was without power for about one hour and a half. Broken 33 k.v. insulators initiated a pole fire in that section of the line traversing the pit in Waterloo road. Insulators on two adjacent poles suffered severe damage. “An alternative feeder of limited capacity was made available for a portion of the industrial load within five minutes of the shutdown, which was arranged at short notice to effect repairs. “The Police Department has been most helpful in investigating the incidents,” Mr Slatter said. Demand The consumption of energy in the board’s area for Mayhad risen 7 per cent on the same period last year, but this was not unduly high, Mr Slatter said. “The demands recorded so far this quarter have been comparable with the highest recorded last winter,” he said. “However, it is expected that demands will increase later this month.” The highest demand recorded last month was 33,826 kw. on May 23. The kw. hours registered ’at the main substations up to June 5 totalled 32.991,154. The voltage for many containers in the Kirwee area had

been effectively stabilised by the installation of a 550 kva voltage regulator, the assistant engineer (Mr P. D. Rutledge) reported. The regulator had previously been in service at College corner, Lincoln. New low-tension conductors had been run in Hawkins road, Hororata, and work was in hand to recopper low tension lines in McMillan and Creyke streets, Darfield, he said.