HOPES OF EASING IN WATER HEATER RESTRICTION

Chronicle (Levin), 22 April 1948, Page 4

HOPES OF EASING IN WATER HEATER RESTRICTION

-■ — . Board Biscusses Aspects Of Power Shortage Several aspects pf the present electricity shortage— whether the distriet was receiving a fair allocation of the availabie supply, the possibility of there being any relief for consumers and the haraship brought to users in C0n.se-" quence" of the ban on water heaters during the week— were diseussed at the monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric PowerBoard yesterday. The outcome of the diseussion was a- decision that immediately it was in the board's power to do so, the use of water heaters be allowed for eight hours • daily, 56 per week, instead of the 38 hours now permitted over the weekenfis. The ban on the mid-wesk use of water heaters followed the receipt of a telegram on April 12 from the' Electricity Controller, advising of an immediate reduction of 15 per eent in the board's allocation, said the chairman, Mr T. O. Vincent. The. action taken was unavoidabie. He hoped it would be possible to ease the restrictions on water heating ot some .extent, while he would also like to see more consi'deration given to the convenience of consumers in the hours at which the euts were made. If the hours for water heating were extended, would it be operated on the honour system as far as consumers were concerned or would it be meter checked, the chairman was asked. That question would arise later, replied Mr. Vincent. A great deal of comment ha'd been made about the people in weekend batches, he continued. It had been said. that they helped to make peak, loads .and took advantage of the weekend freedom -in the use of water heaters. However last Tuesday week the load from Otaki, excluding Ota^i township, to the northern boundary of the board's area had gone up only one per cent. 'during the cold snap, From Otaki south the load had gone up 16 per cent. This had been at a timej when none of the weekend cottages were occupied. The increa&e could be attributed to the use df electric i radiators in "the cold area. The| position was going to be most diffi-j cult if the weather became cold very quickly. .Last week consumptioii had been reduced as a result of the ban on water heaters, reported the engineer, Mr. J. F. Bryce. It had been found that consumption v;~s below the allocation and water heaters had been left on for a longer period than had been decided. By this means consumptign .'"ti been regulated to within .75 per cent. of the allocation, This week it was again slightly below the allocation. It thus seeme'u that the board might allow consumers the use of Water heaters for eight , hours daily, The chairman: Could the restrictions on industry be eased?

Mr. Bryce : Yes, that 'could, probabiy be done. 'f; ; . j The incon veriiehce and" hardship whibh mothers of small children experienced, with' no water for washing and baths, was raised by Major-General R. Young. He said that if the mothers had to v have water, they heated it on ranges, If the heaters were -on for a short time each day, the water would be hot enough to use or would , take very little heating. • Mr. . C. S. Keedwell thought the board should .have more finformation in regaid to , the basis on which the board's allocation was asssssed. Was it a fair allocation in rqlation to the exparision of the load in the distrijct, he .asked; The chairman:; The Electricity Controller assured ^the board that the allocation was "based bn last year's consumption,. plus a percentage increase. Mr. Keedwell: Is it based on the consumption of last year during the. period of cuts? Mir. Bryce: No. Were other boards imposing cuts to the same extent as Horowhenua, asked Mr. Keedwell. He felt that the board did not have enough information on the matter, and enquired how tfie allocation compared with that received by other boards. As graph was produced showing the distriet consumption last year compared with. the allocation. It di'd not look as'bad when seen on the graph, commented the chairman. It was an accepted fact that the distriet had a natural ten per cent. increase in consumption, said Mr. Keedwell. . At no . time had the allocation inereased more than five per cent. . ^ Other boards were in the same position, explained the chairman. Had other boards had the same increase though, questioned Mr. Keedwell. If consumption was ten per cent. above the allocation, then when the cut of 15 per cent. was made in the -allocation it was actually a reduction of 25 ner cent. on consumption. He had great sympathy wlm those called upon to make severe euts at short notice, said Mr. F. W. Vickerman. It was not expected that the consumers would be pleased, but the cuts had to be made. No matter what was done, if the board curtailed power for industry he doubted very much if it wouid make any real saving; The exeeutive officers wero faced with the position of . "whatever you do will be v/rong; do it riow." , , The Mangahao, dams were now full and, this would relieve the posi- . tio n somswhat, said Mr. R. R. Lind. Only a week or so ago a tramper had walked across the bed of the top dam. The board then reached the decision > given above. It later resolved, on the recommendation of the standing. committee, to advise local bodies that it was prepared to consider applications for the installation of a limited number of new street lights.