SOUTH ISLAND POWER SUPPLIES UNDER REVIEW

Grey River Argus, 1 October 1948, Page 2

SOUTH ISLAND POWER SUPPLIES UNDER REVIEW

•DUNEDIN, Sept. 30

The action that can be taken to ease the prospective power shortage in the South Island is reviewed in a comprehensive report on future supplies presented to the annual conference of the Electrical Power Boards and Supply Authorities’ Association to-day. By inter-connection with the Cobb River scheme and the completion of other proposed works, the report says the South Island supply system can be maintained without undue strain until 1953, after which there would be a steadily increasing shortage.

“For the main South Island system there is a possible shortage of units during the year ending March, 1949, and to a lesser extent during the year ending March, 1950,’.’ states the report, “but, if weather conditions are not unfavourable, both as affecting water supply and consumption, little serious inconvenience should be experienced. “Better conditions are indicated for the years ending March, 1951, and 1952, with a reversion to conditions similar to 1948 for the year ending March, 1953, after which there will be a steadily increasing shortage until relief is provided. No Shortage till 1956

By inter-connection of the NelsonMarlborough system with the main South Island system by May, 1950, and the completion of the Cobb River main scheme by May, 1952, it should be possible to avoid a shortage of units of electricity in the South Island until the operation of the next major scheme, provided it was not delayed longer than May 1, 1956.

It should, however, be noted, said the report, that this major scheme should be in operation by May 1, 1955, if a shortage of plant capacity was to be avoided.

The report set out the various extension, which it was suggested, should be developed in stages and added: “Since it may become impossible even with the best efforts to have the next major dvelopment in operation by May, 1955, the State Hydro-electric Department should as soon as possible, select and investigate a site for a scheme of sufficient size to enable a serious shortage to be avoided until the major scheme is in operation.” Avoiding Restrictions

The committee believes that hestrictions can be avoided after the present leway is mad up. This would require the establishment of a new branch in the State Hydro-electric Department to plan and cost new works, to design new works, to collate load growth ’ for prediction purposes and for the complete supervision of new construction as from the time of the calling of tenders. The prospective North Island supply position is exhaustively reviewed in a separate section of the report. The estimated deficiency between the power available and the natural load is expected to rise from 135,000 units in 1948 to 629,000,000 in 1955. The report states that there is urgent need for speeding up the investigation, design and construction of hvdro-electric stations in the North Island. The construction of a large steam plant on a coalfield is also recommended for investigation.