DRASTIC ACTION TAKEN

Chronicle (Levin), 2 April 1947, Page 4

DRASTIC ACTION TAKEN

Electricity To Waterheaters Cut Off Following the receipt of An urgent telegram yesterday afternoon from the Electricity Controller, power to electric waterheaters under pilot wire control was not turned on at the termination of the normal 12-hour cut-off period at 8 p.m. Power to" all such waterheaters will remain off until consumption of electricity in the Horowhenua district is reduced to the board's allocation.

Waterheaters not on piiot wire control were not affected, the board's managing-secretary, Mr. R. A. Frederikson, stating that it would take a week to disconnect these and another wee kto reconnect them, The order from the controller was in definite terms, and the board had no.-alternative but to take the drastic step of cut-. ting off all waterheaters available. Should the position, improve the additional control will be lifted. In his telegram to the board, the controller stated that its unit consumption for the .week ending March 30 was 13 per cent. above its reduced allocation, and asked what steps were being taken by the board to comply with the recent electricity control order. "This excess consumption cannot be allowed to continue," added the controller, "and it will be neceSsary to invoke powers under regulation three of the Electricity Emergency Regulations, 1939, or the penalty powers- under the Supply Control Emergency Regulations, 1939, unless consumption is reduced to 20 per cent. below your alloca- ' don." Under these regulations the controller has power to take over completely the electricity generation and distribution, and could withhold power from any board or district.

"The order from the controller is mandatory, and if we don't take steps to cut down on, our consumption he will do it for us and probably much more drastically," commented Mr. Frederikson. He expressed gratification at the manner in which owners of waterheaters not directly under the board's control were co-operating. His staff had made calls at nearly all the houses affected, and found that most of the householders were complying with the instruction. Some were voluntarily disconnecting their heaters completely, and others were instituting cuts over and above the requirements of the board. Further calls would be made from time to time, and severe action would be taken agaihst those who did not -comply y^ith the order. • • • '• HEAVIER CUTS OVER IIOLIDAYS Drastic power cuts incorporating the Horowhenua Electric Power Board's district have been planned for the Easter holiday period. From Friday "to Monday inclusive the following shutdowns will be enforced: 9.30 a.m. to' 11 a.m., 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., 7 p.m. to 7.30 p.m., and 10.30 p.m. to 12 p.m.