DRASTIC POWER CUTS

Chronicle (Levin), 11 March 1947, Page 7

DRASTIC POWER CUTS

-Press Association

UNLESS CONSUMERS COMPLY WITH URGENT APPEALS

By Telegraph-

WELLINGTON, March 10. Even more drastie- tfuts in electric power than have already been imposed are likely in the North Island during the reiiiaining autumn pionths unless the position is greatly relieved by sufficient raihfall to replenish the eatchment areas supplying water to the generating stations, or by strict observance of appeals to consumers to economise considerably in the lise of electricity. This critical situation which will be particularly serious for about a month after the Horahora station on the Waikato* Kiver is submerged by th'e filling of Karapiro dam, and until the new Karapiro station can supply power, was officially predicted today. Although no official announcement is available as to when the Karapiro dam is to be filled, it is expected that this will be done very soon. The disappearance of Horahora under the rising waters of the lake so formed, wili mean a ioss of 12,000 kilowatts generated by that station on the peak'load but a few weeks later the first 30,000 kilowatt generating unit at Karapiro wiil be brought into operation. The installation of two additional similar units is expected to follow at about six monthly intervals. The difficulties of the power situation in the North Island were d'iscussed by an official of tlie State Hydro Electric Department. He said that in December, having regard to the plant available, the department had stated that in the early inonths of this • year before the Karapiro supply was available, it could provide a three per cent.. increase in power to meet the higher demand. However, it would be necessary to have average rivcr flows this year and to draw heavily on storage through the summer months. Normally the latter would not be considered but it was done. Having regard to the development of the new stations at Karapiro and at Kaitawa 011 Lake Waikaremoana, the department had also informed supply authorities that, especially after Horahora was flooded, in the event of a dry year it could not give the three per cent increase and pointed out that conse1 quently this autumn might be a very . critical period. Actually the demand had not kept to three per cent. For Januaiy, February and the beginning of March there had been a 9 per cent increase.

In January at Taupo there was about 2\ inches of rain compared with the normal long term average rainfall of 6.1 inches, while in February there was 2 inches of rain compare^ with an average of 5i inches. ■ • .. At Waikaremoana the average rainfall for January was 6.9 inches compared with the actual fall this January of 5.6 inches. "We have not lrad sufficient rain to rnalce up the draw otf," said the official. "The stock pile of 'power has just been eaten up due t to tlie demand and far too quickly at th'^jt.. j We have now reached a positiotn,jwhen we have to eke out whkt we havq^in storage until the new sation comes in. Supjily authorities have b'een-told'to -reduce consumption immediately to their allocations and to any •further reductions below those alLbcht-ions that. might fbe necessary, until Karapiro is • available. One condition can change tliat-and that is a complete break in the weather which is a matter over which we have no control, or a complete resp'onse by every electricity consumer to appeals to have power in every way possible. . There should be no great difficulty in consumers economising in the use of power. The increase of 9 :per cent in the de-^ mand meant that it has been necessary to develop 12,000,000 units more than the department knew should be provided. ' '