RADIO SILENCE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 191, 11 May 1944, Page 4

RADIO SILENCE

Response By Listeners Welcomed SHARE IN REDUCTION OF POWER LOADS It is the opinion of the electrical supply authorities in the vicinity of Wellington that the morning half-hour radio silence, recently instituted, is definitely easing the load, though, because of other factors, it is not possible to calculate the effect accurately. Recent weather conditions have been warmer than last year and have probably played a major part in load reduction. Nevertheless, supply authorities are pleased with the response that has been made bj’ radio listeners. A representative of the hydro-electric division of the Works Department stated that the response was very good. “There are still one or two black spots in the North Island,” he said, “but on the whole listeners have helped to lighten the load. It is not possible to state what proportion of load reduction can be claimed by listeners. So many factors come into the problem. The restrictions on the sale of certain 1 types of electrical appliances are beginning to become noticeable in the load. The control and metering of water heaters is another favourable factor. It is probable that the load to military camps is lower this than last. We are quite pleased with the reduction compared with last year. The last fortnight, however, has been exceptionally mild and all the hydro-electric stations in the North Island have a full head of water, which has also helped. It remains to be seen what conditions will prevail later in the winter when we get a series of really cold southerlies.” The manager of the Wellington corporation electricity department said that there was a noticeable and worthwhile difference. It was hoped that the response would be even better later on when the weather got cold. The manager of the Hutt Valley Electric-power Board declared there had been a wonderful reduction in the load. When asked to compare the weather during the last fortnight with last year, a representative of the Meteorological Department said: “Over the period mentioned the temperature this year has been 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit warmer than it was last year.”