DRY WEATHER HAS BROUGHT LAKES LOW

Chronicle (Levin), 5 March 1947, Page 3

DRY WEATHER HAS BROUGHT LAKES LOW

WELLINGTON, Mar. 4. Becausu of tiie contiuued dry weather in the lake catchment areas, the hydroelecinc power suppiy was not cqual to the present very high demand,. said the Alilnster of Wpr-ks, Hom.-Ei 'Semple,, wlion e.xplaining tonight :ihe reation foi'r the sudden power crisis . today. The situation was ! f urther: coniplicated by a shortage of coai at Kings Wharf Station, Auckland, which must remain sliut down until suppiies arrived there. Also the dams at Mangahao were very low. There was only sufficient water for peak load running, said the Minister. Trouble was also being experienced with the oil fuel station at Evans Bay and this plant might have to be taken out of operation at short notice. Lake Waikaremoana was now at a very low level and even with. the syphons the power that could be generated was limited.

At Taupo Lake the storage had already been drawn ujion by more than half the available ainount and until the hydraulic conditions improved and more coa'l was available to fuel the stations, there was no opticm but to ask consumers to cut down their demancls to the utmost possible exteut. " After a day of struggle yesterday, " said the Minister, "it was unavoidably necessary to call for the load to be limited during the peak period by means of cutting off power. This method of controlling the load is only used as the last resort but will have to be employed more frequently unless the power demand, both in peak aird unit consuinption, is reduced by voluntary rationing. The present hea\w loading cannot continue. The remain ing storage must be conserved until winter rains begin. " Witli the advent of Karapiro and more espeeially after the second unit beeame available, the position should show some improvement, said Mr Semple.