In 1977, the Suva City Council made a public appeal for electricity consumers to reduce their usage due to ongoing issues with three faulty generators at the Kinoya power station. The chairman of the council’s electricity committee, Cr Raojibhai Patel, expressed hope that the public would understand the situation and cooperate while engineers worked to rectify the problems.
Cr Patel explained that the council was experiencing challenges related to increased electricity demand along with breakdowns in power supply systems. One of the two engines purchased from a British firm in 1976 was under warranty but had not yet been fully accepted, causing strain on the utility’s capacity to meet consumer needs. Additionally, power outages were exacerbated by damage to power lines caused by various factors including construction activities and vandalism.
The council’s predicament was intensified by delays in receiving new engines due to industrial issues in Britain, which meant that installed capacity fell short during critical moments. If the new generators had arrived on schedule, capacity could have reached 52 megawatts, meeting the increasing demand for at least two years.
As a result of the power shortages, certain areas including Grantham Rd and Lami had to experience temporary disconnects. Cr Patel urged residents to limit their electricity use during peak hours, specifically advising reduced consumption from 8 am to 5 pm and from 6 pm to 7 pm.
Tensions escalated within the affected industrial areas like Vatuwaqa, with industrialists demanding compensation for financial losses incurred due to the outages and suggesting that they should not be liable for paying electrical bills during this period of disrupted service.
This situation sheds light on the historical challenges faced by utility services in managing infrastructure and maintaining reliable service in the face of increasing demands and technical difficulties. Such challenges highlight the critical importance of proactive planning and community cooperation during periods of disruption.
Comparing this situation to current events, it’s evident that timely communication and collaborative efforts between utility companies and the public remain essential in navigating power supply issues effectively. There is hope that, just as community members have cooperated in the past, they will continue to work together with service providers to ensure a stable and efficient energy supply moving forward.
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