The Nespelem tribune. [volume] (Nespelem, Wash.) 1934-1936, 1935-01-30
Demand Is Heavier
For Electric Power
Power Consumption For 1884
Exceeds Former Records;
Means Recovery

SPOKANE, Jan. % (SpeciaD -
Rejoicing existed among leaders of
the Grand Coulee power project to-
day when it was announced that
a new record for the consumption
Of electric power in Washington was
established during 1884.
Last year the consumption of
electric energy in the state exceed
ed the peak load of 1929 by 1872
100000 XVIII In 1929 the state con-
sumed electric power in the amount
of 1852 100000 XVIII. During 1884
the consumption jumped to 1884,
100000 XVIII. The discovery of this
highly important fact was made by
G. F. Uhden, engineer making the
power market study for the Column
bia Basin Commission, following
receipt of figures from the United
States Geological Survey.
With the exception of Montana,
the other northwest states, Oregon
and Idaho, are within a small per-
centage of their 1929 record of cleo
trio power consumption.
Important Event
Nothing of more tremendous i'm
portance to the Northwest has hap
pened since the authorization of the
$63 100000 Grand Coulee power pro-
ject than the return of our state
to a new electric power consump-
ton record" said James O'Suli-
van, secretary of the Columbia,
Basin commission. "PoWer is the
business barometer of the North
west. Power is to the business of the
Northwest what steel is to the ma
TONS business, and this new peak
power consumption record for
washington spells beyond any
question the rapid return of our in
dustrial life"
Engineer Uhden based his charts
on the figures provided by the Uni
ted States Geological Survey for
Washington, Oregon, Idaho and
Montana, which are as follows:
Washington, 1852 100000 XVIII in
1929 and 1854, 45O, 900 XVIII in 1884.
Oregon, 1851, 100000 XVIII. and L.
087 ,371 900 XVIII; Idaho, 1874, 900, 900
XVIII. and 764, 951 900 XVIII; Montana,
1914 100000 XVIII. and 872,942 900
XVIII.
Return To 1929 Peak
"We had not expected the return
to the 1929 peak load to come so
soon, based on the return nation
ally, which is now within only four
per cent of the 1929 record" con-
tinued Mr.. O'Sullivan. NATURALLY
we were pleased when Engineer
Uhdens study revealed that Wash
ington is just about year ahead
of the rest of the nation in it's re-
turn to normal power consumption. u
Coming at this time, the new
power consumption record is ex-
pected to be of outstanding i'm
portance in the effort of the Co.
lumbia Basin Commission to secure
early authority for construction of
the Grand Coulee high dam.
The total installed XIV capacity
for the four northwest states is
1,758,OO2 and is divided: Washing
ton, 1884, 1879; Oregon, 336,119; Idaho
ZIG, 1865, and Montana, 310,599 XIV
The total represents all public
utilities, both privately and public
ly owned.
MANY persons discussing power
consumption do not understand
that installed power equals the
peak load, or maximum demand on
a plant at any one time," said Mr.
O'Sullivan. 1T is almost mandatory
that about twice as much power bs
developed at plant as is necessary
for the average demand in order t.
meet the peak, or maximum, de-
mand.
"For example, the peak load, Of
maximum demand, on the plant O.
the Puget Sound Light and Power
Company, comes at 4 p. m. and thu
minimum demand at a. m. If tn,
plant of the Puget Sound Powe,