POWER BOARD

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 261, 17 August 1936, Page 6

POWER BOARD

REVENUE STILL INCREASING.

BUSINESS CONTINUES TO GROW.

CAPITAL EXPENDITURE NECESSI TATED.

The Ashburton Electric Power Board met this morning, when there were present Messrs E. F. Nicoll (chairman), W. H. Woods, J. Carr, W. G. Gallagher, J. Latnbie, R. J. Mulligan, W. Bryant, H. Morris, H. C. Barton, H. J. Crotliers, W. H- Bundle and J. W. M. Dart. The financial statement showed that revenue for July, with a comparison foi the same month of 1935, was as follows. Domestic £IBB9 18s 8d (£1905 17s), de crease £ls 18s 4d; commercial £785 3s 7d (£797 4s 6d), decrease £l2 0s lid; power £1223 8s U (£lllO 2s sd), increase £ll3 6s 2d; sundries £37 11s (£37 5s 3d) increase 4s 4d, totals £3935 11s 9d (£3850 9s 2d), inarease £BS 2s 7d. Revenue for the four months of the year was £350 3s Id above that of the similar period last year. The Running-Engineer (Mr A. 1. Saunders) reported that units supplied by Coleridge had totalled 736,000 and by the Diesel 6051; a grand total of 742,051. Owing to the Public Works Department’s local voltage regulator being out of action, the voltage varied a good deal during the month. The actual demand on Coleridge, as measured on the meter, was 1682 KVA at 11,700 volts but when to 11,000 volts was reduced to 1608 KVA. The regulator had been repaired and placed in commission again. This necessitates a complete shut down of the system for approximately 15 minutes. The Diesel was running for 62 hours 35 minutes during the month using 527 gallons of crude oil. Owing to the varying voltage a good deal more running was done than is usual.

The Inspector (Mr W. G. Welsh reported that during the month the installation department had a good deal of wiring of consumers’ residences and also new installations. The main items installed were twelve ranges, of which five replaced other types, four watei heaters and six motors. Nine new consumers were connected. The numbei of extensions and alterations to existing installations was sixty-two. They had received inquiries from several people in outlying districts who desired information relating to the cost of connecting up to the Board’s supply and these were being attended to. The retest work was still proceeding and 33 installations had been dealt with. The total retested to date was 1473. The test room staff had been fully occupied in general overhaul work and rewinding of motors and appliances. ( The Engineer-Secretary (Ml' 11. G. Kemp) reported that a total of 84 defective bluegum poles were replaced with ironbark in the following districts: Lauriston 36, Wiuchniore 16, Hinds 13, Elgin 5, Three Springs 3, Sea field and Mount Hutt 2 each, Dorie, Ashburton, Cairnbrae, Ashburton Forks, Methven, Greenstreet and Springfield one each. Wires were changed over on to new poles in the Lauriston district. Sei vices involving 13 new poles were run in the following districts: Dorie 7, Chertsey 2, Methven, Greenstreet, Springfield, Mount Somers and Winclimore one each. A shipment of 42 poles was received during the month. A heavy angle pole at Digby’s Bridge was found to be inadequate and was replaced with a stouter pole. The high tension covered V.I.R. Cable run through Tinwald was found not to be up to regulation requirements and was replaced with proper wire. Trees were cut in Willowby, Elgin, Springfield end Mount Somers. The cable for the condenser arrived and has been partly fitted. The condenser arrived in Lyttelton tliis week and all possible preparations have been made for its installation. The display of the Electrical Development Association films in Ashburton was given and a total of 11 showings were given in the week ending July 25, 1936. All the schools sent their senior children and the total attendance was approximately 2400 people. The general impression was quite good and it would appear that advertisements of this type could be used more frequently with advantage. The reports were adopted. In reply to a question regarding the efficiency of the ranges being put out by the Board, Mr Kemp said that in 95 per cent of the cases there had not been any complaint, and it was difficult to find a reason for tho complaints in regard to the remainder. The increase in the revenue, it was stated, was due to the ever-increasing business of the Board. Though tho charges had been lowered there had been an increase of over 200 consumers.

The chairman stated that the Finance Committee had discussed the question of the loans and had decided to recommend the Board to apply to the Local Government Loans Board for authority to raise a further £IO,OOO, part of tho £85,000 authorised by the ratepayers in 1929, of which £25,000 was still available, plus the usual margin of 10 per cent. It would not he necessary to raise the whole amount of the £IO,OOO at once, but it was no good going to the Loans Board two or three times a year. The question of the rate of interest to be offered had been gone into, and while tho Committee would like to issue the debentures at 3£ per cent it had been thought wise to hold this over till ho and Mr Kemp had visited Wellington next week The £IO,OOO now being asked for was largely in connection with the replacement of poles. The large increase in the Board’s business necessitated the extra capital expenditure. It was the intention to raise the money £2500 at a time. The recommendations of the Committee were adopted.