POWER RESTRICTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 May 1943, Page 5

POWER RESTRICTIONS

FURTHER MEASURES TAKEN USE OF WATER HEATERS. ACTION BY WAIRARAPA POWER BOARD. (“Times-Age” Special.) Further restrictions on the use of water heaters were decided upon by the Wairarapa Electric Power Board at its meeting yesterday. A report concerning power restrictions was submitted to the meeting by Mr G. Brown (secretary-manager) and approved. The recommendations adopted were: To enable the board to limit its unit consumption which had been increased as a result of the load connected last year (mostly as a result of the earthquake) the hours during which the water heaters were to be switched on was further reduced as follow, the figures given, equal to 7| per cent, being* the total reduction: 21 hours’ service, 95 minutes; 16 hours service, 75 minutes; 14 hours’ service, 65 minutes; 9 hours’ service, 45 minutes. The extra saving in units this year would be 528,000, or 44,000 units per month. The Electricity Controller had discontinued the use of “Neon” signs and commercial lighting had been reduced. The disconnection of “Neon” signs would reduce the unit consumption by approximately 4,000 units per month. The restrictions on commercial lighting would not cause any appreciable reduction compared with last year, but would prevent an increase which would otherwise have taken ' place. The reduction in the hours of water heaters would reduce revenue by £720 per annum, or £6O per month. The reduction in cost to the consumer would work out as follows:—For each 1 k.w., on 21 hours’ service—a reduction of Is per month; on 16 hours’ service, a reduction of 7d per month; on 1.4 hours’ service, a reduction of 6d per month; on 9 hours’ service, a reduction of 4d per month. These proposals were designed to deal with the additional load which was connected during the year ending March 31, 1943.

As the board could not count on getting any increase at all next year, said Mr Brown, it necessarily followed that the new load this year would have to be strictly limited. Unless the board could get a definite assurance from the Electricity Controller that a further increase in power would be available next year, permits should be issued for the following new work only: (1) Essential work for the armed forces; (2) for reinstating wiring and appliances in buildings damaged in the earthquakes; (3) for lighting only in new buildings and additions to buildings for which permits had been issued by the Building Controller, and at the discretion of the board; (4) for essential work in hospitals and in factories, workshops and industrial plants which were engaged on war work, and where the installation of additional electrical equipment would directly assist in the prosecution of the war. Work for which permits had already been issued should be completed. Mr W. A. Tate considered that broadcasting could be reduced as a means of economising in power. He ventured to say that radios in hundreds of homes could be comfortably reduced by shutting them down and using them only when necessary. Many people kept their radios going all day and well into the night. Parliament was another source where power could be conserved and its broadcasting of speeches reduced. In this respect Parliament refused to take action.

Mr J. W. Colquhoun: “It seemed that boards were not doing the right thing by taking on new consumers and then asking them to reduce their consumption.”

Mr Brown read a letter from the controller, Mr Kissel, which was to the effect that nearly half the units generated in the North Island were used for water heaters. It looked as if the board would be obliged to curtail the use of power in more ways than by water heaters. Neon lights and verandah lights would be definitely stopped. The use of radiators would be reduced and even electricity in the homes cut down, that was, the use of electricity for lighting in rooms not being used. It looked as if the board would have to keep a close supervision of the position. A general appeal had been made by the controller for a restricted use of power. Mr Brown said at one time it was a well-known fact that baths were taken once a week, but now with use of water heaters it had become a custom to have a bath every day. After further discussion it was decided that the same inspector as was appointed last year be employed this year and his duty would be to enforce the measures decided on for the saving of power.