Electricity Users May Be Given Quota Of Units

Chronicle (Levin), 21 October 1948, Page 6

Electricity Users May Be Given Quota Of Units

Board Considering New System Of Rationing Consideration is to be given by the Horowhenua Electrie Power Board to a scheme for the individual rationing of electricity. The scheme is one which would. give each consumer a quota of units for each meter reading. The -board would have authority to impose certain penalties on consumers who ex--eeeded their quota. It would mean an end to, compulsory blackouts and cuts in power f or ' water-heaters.

The matter was discussed at some length by members at a meeting of the board yesterday, when it was decided to -instruct the executive offieers to bring down a report on the subject to the November meeting. , At the annual conference of the Electricity Power Boards' and Supply Authorities' Association recent!y, it had been made quite plain by the general manager of the State Hydro Department, Mr. A. E. Davenport, that it would be nec-' essary to ration power until the Maraetai power station was in operation, said the managing-sec-retary, Mr. R. A. Frederikson, in a recommendation to the board. "He felt that under reasonable conditions, the Department would be in a position to grant annual increases of five per cen't in the quota, but it would be necessary for every supply quthority to keep within the allocation. He hoped it would be possible for them to maintain a 20 hour service, and so avoid the inconvenience and disorganisation caused by completed shutdowns. He considered that by consumer co-operation it would

be possible to do so. He gave the conference an assurance that thej department would give consideration to each supply authority's requirements when fixing the quotas, and also made it very clear that the department would insist that each supply authority kept within its allocation. Shortage For Three Yeaxs "The position was discussed by a combined meeting of engineers and secretaries and the general opinion was that while it would

not be possible to arrive at any system of rationing suitable to all supply . authorities, an attempt should be made to seek consumer co-operation to meet the difficult period ahead," continued Mr. Frederikson.' "The position now arises where the board is faced with taking a long view of electricity rationing. In the past we have had to face up to temporary shortages, and the methods employed have been suceessful, but rather harsh in their applieation. There is no doubt that we have reeeived considerable help from consumers and there is no reason to doubt that that help

will be forthcoming, provided consumers are given a clear picture of the supply position, and that is that we are going to be short of power, summer and winter, for the next three years. With favourable hydraulic conditions, the restrictions need not be severe. But in the event of unfavourable conditibns the position will indeed be serious. "In considering the position for the next three years, the board must consider the questions of new load, additional load and weekend or holiday connections, and ways and means of keeping our consumption within the allocated quota. It would not be reasonable to refuse installations to new dwellings or new commercial installations, and the increase provided in the board's quota should be sufficient to take care of all new load offering, provided existing consumers and keep their consumption at its present level. Mixed Reception "The question of weekend or holiday cottages, is, I feel, rather a difficult problem in that there may be a reasonable excuse to refuse connections to this type of residence, but' it must be remembered that a considerable portion of our load has been developed with the assistance of this type of consumer and, in many cases, the bach today becomes the residence tomorrow. In the main, the loading is during the summer months, when the Dominion load is not heavy, and in the case of the purely holiday bach the total consumption is very modest. "I would like to offer ' for . the consideration of the board, the possibility of individual rationing of consumers, rather than rationing effected by shutdowns and waterheater restrictions," continued • Mr. Frederikson. "This system has been tried in the Taranaki districts with success and, although conditions may differ, I feel that it is worth a trjal. At the present time we appeal to consumers to save electricity, and - unfortunately, the person who does make a. real sacrifice is in no better position than the consuirier who has no consideration. Under in-

dividual rationing, the consumer who played the game would have a 24-hour service, and it would be possible to come down on the consumer who was not prepared to help. I feel that in practice, where consumers "were given a reasonable quota, the tendency would be to keep well within that quota. "What I have in mind is, that each consumer would be given a quota of units for each meter reading. The meter reader, on his next visit, would check the consumption and, in the event of excess consumption, a consumer would be warned. If on a' subsequent visit a reduction had not been made, part or the whole of the service would be disconnected. This could apply to commercial (shops) and domestic installations, but I fail to see that much could be done along these lines with rural and industrial power. There would have to be a considerable amount of latitude, and eyery consumer would have to have the right to appeal against the quota allocated," concluded Mr. Frederikson.

Weekend Cottages He was in favour of the scheme of individual rationing if it could be brought about, said Mr. R. O. Hornblow. However, it seemed to him that the board should have the power to make cut-offs if it was found necessary to penalise any of the consumers. The board had that power, said Mr. Frederikson, but it had to give seven days' notice of its intention. Major-General R. Young: I would not like to see this scheme brought in. I would rather we used an honour system than Gestapo methods. People with children in the house will want more power than those without .children. ! It was pointed out by the chair-v man, Mr. T. G. Vincent, that applieation could be made to the managing-secretary for a larger allocation. Looking at the scheme it seemed to him that if the board allowed the executive offieers latitude to meet any such cases, the individual rationing would be better. When the report was brought down, the board could discuss the matter further.

Mr. Frederikson: I would not like to see any great penalties imposed on industrial concerns. The big thing behind the scheme is that the board would be able to take disciplinary action against those consumers who will not help. The Taranaki board has not been over its allocation for one week since the system was introduced. General Young: I can foresee a riot if this comes into operation. The engineer, Mr. J. F. Bryce, said that the scheme would_ give every consumer a fairly liberal allocation. "At the present time, I think the wrong people are doing the saving. A case was brought to my notice the other day of an 80-year-old woman who had put her plug-in stove away in a corner, and was outside chopping wood to save electricity." Mr. H. Dustin : What worries me is the extra work involved for the staff. They will almost need to take a census of the district. _ Mr. Frederikson: There will be extra work, but we will just go through the accounts for each consumer last year and this will be the basis of the allocation. I don't like the idea of completely disconnecting offenders, but it might be possible to diseonnect certain parts of the service^ such as refrigeTators or wirelesses. Mr. F. W. Vickerman: We . must realise that if we don't do as the controller says, we are likely to get complete cut-outs made at his discretion. We must make some saving in the best way possible. If we could drive home the amount of power each appliance uses, especially radiators, then the system would work. Mr. C. S. Keedwell: I am not too happy about the proposal, but I am not going to condemn it until I hear something further. I would point out that very few people have the ability to read a meter to see if they are keeping within their allocation. ■ Further discussion f ollowed, during which Messrs. J. H. P. Liggins and R. R. Lind commented favourably on the scheme. It was then decided to instruct the executive offieers to bring down the report.