BAY OF PLENTY POWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1021, 11 July 1930, Page 13

BAY OF PLENTY POWER

SHORTAGE EXPECTED IN SPRING OWN PLANT SUGGESTED From Our Oven Correspondent OPOTIKI, Thursday. A lengthy discussion took place at today s meeting of the Bay of Plenty Power Board in connection with the problem of finding sufficient power for the board's requirements during the critical months of spring, when there is likely to be a shortage of power. Several suggestions were put forward whereby the peak load could be reduced, but nothing definite was decided, it being considered better to wait and see how the board's area is affected: then, if necessary, steps can be taken to have the consumption reduced. Every effort is being made to secure enough power for the board’s requirements so that consumers will be inconvenienced as little as possible. Arising out of a special report presented to the board, the question of the board generating its own power at Rangitaiki Falls was discussed. The engineer said the board probably would be faced with a shortage of power to the extent of 200 k.w. during August. The board was not able to get power from the Whakatane borough scheme until an additional plant was installed. This probably would be at the end of August. The most the board could expect from this source was 150 k.w. The chairman, Air. H. R. Hogg, said the board could fulfil its guarantee to the Public Works Department and generate the balance of power required at a considerable saving. For an expenditure of £50,000 to £60,000 it could generate all the power required. At the present time the full capacity of the Rangitaiki River scheme would be 3,000 k.w., and the cost of power to the board would be approximately half what the current from the Government would be. The total cost of the Rangitaiki scheme, if fully developed, would be £IOO,OOO. but it would be many years before it would be necessary to install the maximum capacity plant. There was little likelihood of the Government granting the board a licence but in the event of Arapuni being a total failure there probably would be no obstacle placed in the way of the board installing a generating plant.