MORE POWER CUTS LIKELY

Rotorua Morning Post, Issue 5302, 15 January 1947, Page 6

MORE POWER CUTS LIKELY

(Press Assn —

'LEVELS DROPPING WAIKAREMOANA LOWER THAN EVER BEFORE

-By Telegraph — Copyriyht.)

TAUPO, Last Night. Although the level of Lake Taupo is much more satisfactory,,than at this time last year, the level of Waikaremoana is lower than it has ever been, and there is a vital need for the conservation of' electricity. One turbine at the new Karapiro station at least will be in operatic-n bei'ore next winter, but there is no prospect that the ahility of all th-e stations to generate power will exceed the demand, and thus electricity restrictions are again certain to be imposed. It is also probable that restrictions on the use of power will have to be imposed very early again this year, primarily to conserve water to enable Karapiro Lake to be filled in reasonable time. Over the past few months as much electricity loading as possible has been placed on Waikaremoana to stcre up water in Lake Taupo. For the seeond year in succession there hasLjiot been the rainfall in the Taupo and Waikaremoana catchment areas oi' other years, although there ua;: been much more this year than last year. Sj'phons Nearly Useless Waikaremoana's level to-day is 2001.2ft above sea level, somc 8ft from full. The syphons that draw ' wat' from the lake when the level s Lelcw the normal outlet have been in operation for most of the period, and ro on the level will be so low that the syphons will not be able to operate. When this position occurs, there vi.M be a. much bigger drain c-n Lake Taupo, as Arapuni will have to take n greatly increased load, and unless there i.- a copious rainfall and every cave is L-ken by all consumers to conserve as inueh power as possible the level of Taupo may fall to such an exteat that restrictions may have to be applied well before the winter sets in.

The level of Lake Taupo to-day is 1176.15ft, which is nearly one fooi below full, and it has a falling tendency that v/ill probably increase over the holiday period. Taupo has been maintained at a f'airly satisfactory level, as the demand for electricity from the North Island svstem is about 80,000 kilowatts a day below the normal demand, and this has enablecl the authorities to close the gates now that the holiday period is over and the syphons may be cut out very soon at Waikaremoana. A much bigger draw-off of water from Taupo will be necessary. At the present time work is proceeding on lengthening the syphons drawing water from Waikaremoana, so that more water can be drawn from the lake. This work will probably take two months to ccmplete, and it has been made vitally necessary because of the extra permanent load that will be thrown on Waikaremoana when Horahora closes down on the filling of Karapiro Lake.