Power Authorities Asked To Reduce Consumption

Chronicle (Levin), 4 May 1948, Page 6

Power Authorities Asked To Reduce Consumption

WELLINGTON, Alay 3. All suppiy autliorities m tlxe Nortli 1 fsiand were requestea by a telegraiu fronr the Wtate i±ydrp-Eieeti'ic liepartoient, Weliingtoii, this afteriioou to taiie proiupt actidn. with a view -to further power cuts being avoided. The North Island exceeded its quota by -±.22 per cent. iast week and it appears, on the ligiires available, that the South island excess is 10 per ce'nfy South Island. authorities will -be telegr'aphed toraorrow -when . complete iigurea. are available. ■ . The Noi«th Island allocation Iast week was 26,706,000 units and the consumption 27,833,000 units, an excess o.f 1,127,000 units. . : . The level today at Taupo was 1172.75 feet compared with 1172.8 a w.eek iearlier. At Waikaremoana the level was 1980..10 feet as against 1989.40 feet. ' The- Mangahao dams were f ull Iast week, but only partly full today. - The continued overdrawihg on the quota, together with the absenee of rain, is reducing the lakes' storage. The South Island consumption Iast week is anticipated to be 10 per cent. above quota on present figures and does i not include Nelson and Marlborough which are not eounected to the main suppiy system. Ppwer cuts in the South Island ■ started on April 26. Despite existing cuts and appeals, the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board had not got down to its quota, said the chairman, Mr. J. Huggan, tonight. It was now necessary to iinp'bse an additional restriction in the form of a 10.30 p.m. to 11 p.m. eut daily, ineluding the weekends. The Department 's telegram had not been receiv'ed by the Wellington City Council'vS electricity department when •the officc closed, but it is understood the savings in Wellington Iast week were not satisfactory.