SUDDEN POWER FAILURE

Chronicle (Levin), 2 October 1946, Page 2

SUDDEN POWER FAILURE

-fress Association

WHOLE ISLAND AFFECTED

By Telearaph-

AUCKLAND, Oct. 1. Emergency power restrictions were svviftiy itnposcd throughout the North island between five and six o'clock tonight when for the second consecutive day, the only working generator at Piripaua hydro-electric station near Tuai, tripped because the system was overloaded. When the generator tripper at 4.55 p.m. the whole of Hamilton and Bay of lslands were thrust tem-. porarily iiito total darkness as the load was quickly tlirown oif the dangcrously strained system. In other areas substations substantially re'duced the load by switching off ihdividual feeders for periods of about 15 minutes between five and six o'clock. About 25 niinutes after it tripped the generator was working again. A similar mishap occurred at 5.45 p.m. on Monday night \yheiL LUe tnachjne Avas out of commissibn for an hour. On that occasion the load, although much lieavier tlian usual, was not as demanding as tonight and no cuts were necessary. , Tonight 's load was attributed to early darkness, the wet day and an abuormally heavy radiator consumption. The otlier generator at Piripaua developed bearing trouble and was taken out on Sunda.y for repairs lasting several days. Its absence contributed iargely to the failures. It is expected to bn working on Thursday.