OUR ELECTRIC POWER.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 125, 26 May 1920, Page 7

OUR ELECTRIC POWER.

lARGE STATION ECONOMY.

AX INTERESTING REPORT.

The contention that the Auckland city steam electricity station has always been an economical one makes a report received this morning by the Mayor from the city's electrical engineer, Mr. Wyllie, interesting. The report states, in reference to remarks on coal -consumption by Sir Arnold Grindley, that in a report of the Coal Conservation Committee issued in 1918 it was estimated'that ■before the advent of electric driving in factories the average coal consumption was about 71b of coal per horsepower hour. In large modern electric power stations the coal consumption was about l.olb .per horsepower hour, while in the Auckland city, station the consumption was about 3.11b. The Engineer continues: "When we have completed our present additions I expect to bring this below 31b. The Waikato lignite is not equal in fuel value to the bituminous coal of Great Britain, but the large additions which we now.propose should not require more than 21b of coal per horsepower hour. Sir Arnold in his remark* confirms the statement made by mc recently about the economy of a single large etation .over several small ones. •The day of the small electric power station is past, except where it is impossible to obtain a supply from a lar»e one. Sir Arnold refers to the appointment of five dectric commissioners at Home to exercise supervision and control over electric power development, and ; who have the power to override parochial proposals in the interests of the general weal." Mr. Wyllie adds the remark that there is no such commission in New Zealand.

Tn commenting on the report, the Mayor said that the policy of the Council had been to maintain the important undertaking of supplying electric power in a thoroughly up-to-date, manner, and the recent jjroposale for large extensions would advance this policy to a considerable, extent, according to tue Engineer's report.