WAIKARE CURRENT.

Shannon News, 22 February 1929, Page 4

WAIKARE CURRENT.

COMPLAINTS OP FLUCTUATION.

Reporting to the Horowhenua Power Board yesterday, Mr J,. A. Smith, Electrical Engineer, said: “On Saturday, the 9th February, the Horowhenua Board’s area was changed over from the Mangahao station t-o the Waikaremoana station, which was then supplying power to all areas previously supplied by Mangahao, with the exception of Wellington and the Hutt Valley. The transmitting distance from Waikaremoana to Levin, .is. 197 miles. To-day, Wednesday, 13th February, the two stations were coupled together and ran in parallel for awhile, when it was found necessary to cut out Waikaremoana in order to make adjustments. With the completion of the installation of this 28,000 h.p. generator, there should not be any danger, of power restrictions on account of water shortage at Mangahao.” The chairman (Mr Monk) asked whether members had noticed any difference in the current.

Mr Morse (Otaki) said there was considerable fluctuation in the power. Several people had mentioned it to him and he found it affected delicate^apparatus. It was giving some concern in. such cases. The Chairman: I understand that has happened and have had complaints about it.

Mr BlenkhoVn: There are frequent surges that werp not noticeable before.

The Secretary suggested that these were apparent during the change-over. The chairman said they would expect it to get back to normal after a time.

Mr Seifert: It seeliis as voltage was altering. A lower v voltage results in more power being used. That is a point that we will investigate. The Chairman: It should be an instruction to the Engineer on his return to. go carefully into this matter.