NRS-4195 | Records relating to power restrictions

These records relate to the impact of power restrictions on the general community in 1973 and 1981-82. The origin of the power restrictions, gazetted on 21 June 1973, lay in the difficulties experienced at the Liddell Power Station with its coal supply and the failure of both its coal loader and the coal loader at Munmorah Power Station. Industrial action by power workers further disrupted the State's power supply during this period. The power restrictions in June 1981, December 1981 and March 1982 were due to a combination of industrial problems coinciding with the failure of 555 megawatt generators at the Liddell Power Station. The Electricity Commission operated a telephone enquiry service during the periods the power restrictions were in operation. This service was established to receive complaints and answer questions from members of the public and take "follow-up" action where necessary. These records comprise the following matters relating to the operation of the public telephone service: electricity supply zone lists; summaries of complaints received by the Electricity Commission relating to breaches of the power restrictions; individual complaints sheets for each telephone enquiry; graphs showing the level of telephone complaints; details of violations in the restrictions; media releases; copies of notices from the Government Gazette relating to the restrictions; telephone supervisors' information folder; and copies of the rationing regulations. (18/1498.4-1501.1). 4 boxes (part). Note:This description is extracted from Concise Guide to the State Archives of New South Wales, 3rd Edition 2000.