Heavier Power Cuts Imposed in North Island

Grey River Argus, 14 April 1948, Page 7

Heavier Power Cuts Imposed in North Island

WELLINGTON, April 13.

Power rationing will come into force in the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board’s area this week-end. This was stated to-day by the chairman of the board, Mr J. Huggan. Ten per cent, excess of electric power was used in the North Island last week, as a result of which supply authorities have been directed to reduce their consumption immediately to prescribed allocations to avoid overall emergency power cuts. The State Hydro-electric Department reported to-day that the North Island allocation for the week ended midnight on Sunday was 25,783,000 units. Consumption was 28,347,000 units.

15 PER CENT. REDUCTION As a result of the deterioration in the power situation, the department has had to abandon temporarily the system under’ w’hich allocations were increased progressively as the winter months approached and instead has had to stabilise allocations for the time being at 15 per cent, below those fixed for the week ended on Sunday. Late this afternoon the following telegram was sent by the Electricity Controller. Mi' A. E. Davenport, to all supply authorities in the North Island, a blank space in the telegram containing the number of units allocated to the' supply authority concerned. “System power consumption last week exceeded the allocation by 10 per cent., and to-day’s load is again excessive. Taupo lake is now at 1172.4 ft. Your allocation for this week and successive weeks until further notice is now fixed at units — per week and you are hereby directed to limit your consumption to within this allocation forthwith. I must impress upon you the necessity for urgent action if we are to avoid overall emergency system power cuts should the present high demand and adverse hydraulic conditions continue.” More severe restrictions on the use of water heaters were decided on by the Auckland Power Board to-day. It was also decided to maintain the existing cuts, including evening, disconnection by householders on nights when power is not shut off by the board between 6.30 p.m. and 9.45 p.m.