Evening star., 1941-12-21
Rationing Of Power
For -Four Sections
OF u. ). Considered
Defense Authorities
Believe System Is
Essential for War

Essential for War
Necessity of rationing electric
power in at least four sections OF the
country during 1912 and possibly
l943 is virtually certain, defense
authorities revealed yesterday.
The District of Columbia area will
not be on the critical" list but
there is a possibility that much of
its power supply will be pooled"
and relayed to a shortage area, it
was understood. Areas almost GER
tain to feel the effects of the short
age include the Southeast, where
officials already have had to resort
to rationing during one period this
year; the Southwest, the Pacific
Coast and part of the Middlewest.
The Office Of Production Manage
ment explained that it has been i'm
possible for power facilities to eX-
pand as rapidly as defense produc-
ton, and now that q full war pro-
duction program is under way, a
power shortage is imminent
Curtailnent Of power for civilian
uses in the critical areas will mean
blackouts of essential lighting
such as signs. show windows and
night sports activities. The Gov
ernment will ask cooperation Of
private citizens to avoid wasting
power in homes.
Power Being Increased.
The country's power producing
facilities are being increased. At
the end of 1910 the Nations power
capacity was roughly 5o000,0o0 kilo-
watts, according to o. P. M. figures.
New capacity at the end Of this
year has been estimated at 2,l80 900
kilowatts. An additional 1906 900
kilowatts by the end of 1912 and
another increase of 1,s43,oo0 kilo-
watts by the end Of l943 are antici-
pated. Moreover, this increased ca
pacity is being concentrated in large
measure in strategic defense areas
the Tennessee Valley, the West and
Middlewest.
O. P M. studies show that III the
Tennessee Valley, where the bulk
Of this countrys aluminium is pro-
duced. power needs in the last six
months of 1943 will approximate
1,olo,000,o00 kilowatt hours per
month. Total power available in
the area will average about 900,-
100000 kilowatt hours per month, or
leaving a shortage Of more than
1oo000,o0O kilowatt hours. CA kilo-
watt hour is the amount of power
consumed by a 1o0-watt bulb in 10
hours.
Demands for power machinery
since the start Of the defense pro-
gram have been the heaviest in his
tory. Orders for steam turbines have
been record The same in
dustry has had the job of building
marine turbines for Americas two
ocean Navy and expanding mer-
chant marine
Ships Make Own Power.
Naval vessels are vertible floating
power plants. Figures show that a
big battleship or aircraft carrier has
a power plant Of sufficient capacity
to furnish the ordinary power needs
Of a city of 500 1000 people. The
power plants Of such ships have a
capacity Of up to 100000 kilowatts
T. AS Norris Dam has a capacity
o! only 100 900 kilowatts. Power ex-
perts estimate that turbines being
built for the Navy and merchant
marine total approximately one
half Of the present installed capa-
city Of all the power plants In this
country.
Power pooling has been found to
be one OF the most effective meth
DDS of solving power shortages, Of
ficials said. The procedure con-
sists in hooking together power sys-
TENS of a large section of the coun-
try so that power not needed in
one part of that section can be sent
to another part where 1t is needed
Besides aluminium, other war ma
terials requiring tremendous
amounts of power to produce in
clude magnesium, some types Of
steel, copper, zinc, chlorine, ex-
plosives and many others.
The power branch Of the o. p. M.
has advised that householders
throughout the country may look
forward to "a few simple rules" to
relieve power shortages. These rules
include: Use the hot-water heater
sparingly; if you cook with an elec-
trio stove, use the thrift cooker
open refrigerator doors as seldom
as possible: turn out lights when
leaving a room; use other electrical
devices as little as possible and
don't keep the radio turned on
when you aren't listening to 1t.