CRITICAL POWER POSITION AT END OF MARCH

Chronicle (Levin), 28 January 1947, Page 4

CRITICAL POWER POSITION AT END OF MARCH

-Press Assbciation

By Telegraph—

WELLINGTON, Jan. 27. A reminder to power supply autliorities that the povtar position is still serious, has been issued by the State Hydro-eleetrie Department as the result of the exceeding of allocations by a number of authorities duriilg the last few weeks. The water and power positions are poor at present and if the | authorities do not cooperate in keeping down consumption, cuts may be necessary. Lake Taupo is one foot below the desired level and Lftke Waikaremoana 15 feet below. A critical time is expeeted toward the enct of IMarch when the autumn increase in demand for power begins to take effeet and when it will be necessary to lose a certain amount of power generation by the flooding of Horahora Valley. That action will mean that 1,800,000 units weekly will be lost with- the going out of action of Horohora power station but the flooding is necessary to allow for bringing into operation of a new unit of the Karapiro station in April. The lapse of a few weeks before the lost 1,800,000 units weekly is replaeed by the bringing in of the nnit that will produce about 3,000,000 units weekly, will be the time when power conservatlon might be necessary on a greater scale than at present.