RUN BY ELECTRICITY

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 192, 10 May 1921, Page 5

RUN BY ELECTRICITY

POWER AND LIGHT IN SWITZERLAND.

Nowhere else in the world is electric power so generally used as in Switzerland (wrote a special correspondent ot tho “Daily Mail” recently). In a small town like Lucerne, with only 40,000 inhabitants. to take one example, only 20 small houses are without electric light. There are 7 electric bakehouses, 1000 electric motors, 3500 electric stoves for heating, 2000 electric cooking stoves, and over 5000 electric irons in use among the inhabitants. But in consequence of her highly organised electrical power Switzerland has been passing through a crisis which promised to develop into a catastrophe unless a prolonged spell of rain brought early relief. Not since September last had rain fallen in any quantity until Saturday’s downpour, and the 300 electric-power staions dotted oyer Switzerland were reduced almost to impotence. To cite an example, tho huge-power-station at Muhleberg, near Berne, which normally produces about 64,000-horse-power, has lately been capable of producing only 5000-horse power. Switzerland’s greatest water reserve is the Klontalersee, in the canton of Glaris. Normally capable of furnishing 50,000h.p. daily, this lake in n few days would have been almost dry. Tho loss of such a huge amount of power would be keenly felt, were it not that Swiss industry is now suffering great depression. The shortage of electrical power has particularly affected the newly constructed electric railways, many of which have been obliged considerably to reduce their train service. In this respect the important Loetschberg line has probably suffered least, but even here steam power has occasionally 1 been resorted to.

Strange to say, in the Gothard region the water supply has been practically normal; and the Ritomsee, which produces much of the power for this district. was recently in a state of overflow.

While the drought lasted. Swiss public opinion was much opposed to the exportation of electric power to Germany from the Lautenberg station on the Rhine. From this source, by international agreement. German industries receive something like 200 million kilowatts per hour.

In an endeavour to remedy their power shortage, the Swiss are busy constructing powerful electrical stations in different parts of the country. When completed, the North-East station in the Waggital Valley expects to produce in winter 110 million kilowatts per --hour. This undertaking will cost something like 54 million francs (about £2,350,000) io complete. Another station which will draw its wtiter force from the Grimsel lake (6000 ft. in the Bernese Oberland, is expected to furnish 220,000-h.p. From the lake to tho power station will be a direct drop of 4000 ft. The electrification of the Swiss State railways being now in progress, another station is to be constructed at Amsteg, on the St. Gothard line, which will produce another 50,000-h.p. Tn French 'Switzerland a very powerful station on tho Barberine is now under construction. To-day Switzerland pays £l.O a ton for its coal, and although a big full in prices is shortly expected (and notwithstanding the heavy cost of electrification), it is considered that electric railway traction will prove a great economy.