INCREASED ALLOCATIONS POSSIBLE

Chronicle (Levin), 20 May 1947, Page 7

INCREASED ALLOCATIONS POSSIBLE

WELLINGTON, May 19. If the power supply situation in the North Island continues to improve as it has done over the past ten days, it may be possible to increase allocations in the near future to those supply authorities which have kept their consumption of electricity within the prescribed quota. For some weeks past this has been fixed at 20 per cent. below the ailocation originally fixed for this year by the Electricity Controller. The general manager of the State Hydro-Electric Department, Mr. Kissel, stated today that although the power supply position was improving, particnlarly at Waikaremoana, it had not yet improved sufficiently to allow any definite increase to be granted in the allocations to supply authorities but if the situation continued to improve it was hoped to increase allocations to those supply authorities .which had kept reasonably within their allocations. . Asked what progress had been made with the assembly of a second generating unit for the new .hydro-electrie station at Karapiro, Mr. Kissel said tne final parts for the unit had only just been shipped from Gotlienburg, Sweden They were expected to arrive some time in July and indications were that the unit would be ready for use towaras the end of August. For the week ended midniglit on •Sunday, the consumption of electric power in the North Island amounted to 24,367,000 units which was 1,087,000 units above the allocation for the weeif of 23,280,000 units. The consumption was therefore 4.7 per cent. above allocation.