CITY’S ELECTRICITY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 251, 20 September 1940, Page 6

CITY’S ELECTRICITY

ESSENTIAL UNIT ARRIVES.

TO MEET WINTER LOAD.

Possibilities of concern for those in charge of the city’s electricity depaitmeat, and the question of restrictions to reduce the electrical load, have been removed with t'ne arrival in Palmerston North of an extra transformer to be installed in the Main Street substation. , , Normally the transformers work at a temperature of about 65deg. ■ Centigrade, but last June and July this rose to 75deg. and 80deg. under the increased draw-off from the city, ana apprehension was felt regarding the position next winter with a still turther rise in the use of electricity evident Further, the controlling of electrical load by appeal is regarded as difficult, for residents, having bought electrical appliances such as heaters, are loath to go without their services This year the transformer bank would have faced a 50 per cent, overload, one which could not lightly be countenanced. c Appreciating the possibilities ot a heavy winter load, the City Council last December decided to secure an extra transformer, of 100 k.v.a., » possible, within six months, borne delay was experienced in obtaining tho necessary 'import license and it was not untri almost the end of December that the manufacturers in London were instructed by their New Zealand agents to proceed with the manufacture. , The transformer has now been delivered in Palmerston North and, under the ruling wartime circumstances, this is regarded as being quick work, as under ordinary peace-time conditions six months at least would have been required. The transformer had to be made to certain specifications so that it would be,parallel with, those in the existing bank. . The time taken in shipment to New Zealand was evidently not as long as is generally believed for such shipments to-day, because the test label attached to the transformer shows that it was finally tested and inspected on June 29. Since then it had to be packecj. and forwarded from the works to the ship a.nd, allowing a week for this operation, the shipping time frogi Great Britain to New Zealand wap about eight or nine weeks. |