Evening star., 1942-01-22
Electricity Rafioning
This Year Likely,
Power Officials Warn
Private Homes May Dim
To Advance Victory, +
Congress Is Informed
~ the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
Congress received from Gov
ernment power officials today q
blunt warning that the Nation
faces a rationing of electricity
possibly this year-that may dim
even private homes to conserve
power for the war effort.
That possibility was voiced by Le-
and Clds, chairman Of the Federal
Power Commission, and G. o. Wes-
senauer. acting power manager for
the Tennessee Valley Authority, in
testimony during House Appropria-
lions Committee hearings on the
Independent Offices supply bill.
The bill, calling for S2,O96, 1873 ,875
Tor Independent agencies of the
Government in the next fiscal year
and carrying 1894 ,410,800 for the
shipbuilding program of the Mari
time Commission went to the House
today from its Appropriations Com
mittee.
The total was about 5000, 900 less
than President Roosevelt's budget
recommendations and $l,257 ,8s9, ,349
under comparable appropriations
for this fiscal year. But the COM
rittee said that subsequent supple
mental funds probably would Offset
that apparent reduction.
Other Big Appropriations.
Other major appropriations were:
Tennessee Valley Authority, $136.-
100000; Veterans Administration,
sl10909, ,08S; executive ofiice of the
President. $5135,325; emergency
funds Of the President, $25 900 900;
civil service retirement and disa-
bility fund, $105,25s, 900, and Public
Roads Administration, $88,500, 900.
The committee also approved So
ee3,328 for the National Advisory
Committee for Aeornautics, an in
crease over the current fiscal year
of s2,797,s63, mostly for continued
construction at the Moffett Field,
Calf; laboratory and aircraft
engine research at Cleveland, Ohio.
For the selective service system,
the committee allocated $34,745, 900,
an increase Of $1,245 900 resulting
from the new graduated recruitment
program.
The rationing of electricity for
homes, offices, night clubs and other
civilian purposes. Mr.. Olds told the
Appropriation Committee, "is going
to be necessary and is going to be
done" and a survey to determine
the power supply of the various
areas Is being made 'to determine
just what loads can be cut off with
out materially interfering with lhe
normal life of the community"
Widespread Rationing Seen.
Mr.. Olds said he believed the
emergency would call for power
rationing in many regions "by the
end of this year."
While 1t is hoped and planned, he
added. that curtailment can be ef-
fected without serious dislocation
Of the normal life Of the people,"
1t may mean "a great deal more
than simply the elimination Of neon
signs, ornamental street lighting, the
use Of the radio in homes, or other
essentially luxury uses"
The more serious shortages Of
power naturally will occur in the
heaviest defense production areas,
Mr.. Olds explained, and the popula-
ton OF those areas may face q seri-
Gus reduction of their normal activ-
tiles requiring the use of electricity.
At present, Mr.. Olds told the COM
m1ttee, there is not sufficient power
available or projected to meet the
defense load of 1912. 1943 or 1914,
without either additional capacity
or a material curtailment." He
estimated the total shortage at sew
eral million kilowatts this year and
probably three or four million in
1943. and added, I'VE are likely to
be In a very difficult situation when
we come to 1945 and 1896"
Recalls Southeasts Example.
Mr.. Wessenauer said he was GER
tain there would have to be some
conservation Of electricity to meet
the defense requirements and re-
called savings during "blackout"
period in the Southeast last fall
which he estimated at from 2,000,-
600 to 100000 kilowatt hours.
The testimony on the scores of in
dependent Federal agencies of the
Government brought out that:
l. The Reconstruction Finance
Corp. has made commitments of
about $4,000, 100000 for the defense
and war program.
2. Budget Director Harold D.
Smith recommended a more careful
check to determine whether States
are actually matching Federal funds
allocated them for many projects.
3. Tennessee Valley Authority has
developed a process for production
OF alumina (basic material for
aluminum) from valley
clays and is conducting research for
commercial use of other critically
needed minerals in the area.
Strategic Roads Only.
4. Federal funds will be used only
for construction of strategic high
ways and access roads for duration
Of the emergency.
S. The Civil Service Commission
lacks staff and funds for complete
checkup of thousands holding Gov
ernment jobs.
At the end Of 1941, Mr.. Olds said,
the installed capacity In public util-
ity generating stations was approx
imately 42800,00O kilowatts, with a
total dependable capacity of 36,500,-
600 kilowatts. Scheduled additions
this year will add some 100000
kilowatts to the total capacity.
The defense power needs were es-
timated by Mr.. Olds to vary from
95 per cent in the Niagara Falls area
to Is per cent of total capacity in
some interior regions.
Mr.. Olds said the commissions
plans for power supply this year and
next assume that approximately
one-haf Of all electricity needed for
defense production shall come from
curtailment Of normal uses.
Transfer Difficult Problem.
The principal difficulty in making
,aouay. q uo ila l1la 70 oreoe xx,l,ar> {x {e