ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 246, 18 October 1927, Page 18

ELECTRIC DEVELOPMENT

GROWTH OF AUCKLAND BOARD

SATISFACTORY POSITION.

DISCLOSED.

INTERESTING HALF-YEARLY

COMPARISON.

The growth of the Auckland Electric Power Board is reflected in a comparative statement of accounts for the six mttths ended September 30, submitted by the general manager (Mr. R. H. Bartley) to yesterday's meeting of the board. The report states that during the 1927 period 42,251,650 units were generated, and 8,786,640 were purchased, as against 32,474,866 and 7,618,820, respectively, in 1926. Other items of interest were as follow, the 1926 figures being motioned in parentheses:—Units sold, 42,298,755 (32,936,287); consumers connected, 3158 (3981); total number of consumers, 41,656 (35,439); revenue from supply per nett unit, 1.756 d (1.948 d).

The figures disclose that the units generated increased by 23.2 per cent, and the units purchased increased by 12.8 per cent. The total number of units generated and purchased shows an increase of 21.3 per cent, as compared with the corresponding period of last year. The units purchased would have represented a higher value had it not been for the fact that the board had been unable—due to combined running of two stations—to arrange matters differently, and also owing to the fact that the Government Horahora station was unable to give a greater output.

Increased Domestic Supply. The traction account, points out Mr. Bartley, had been rendered at 1.2 d for this year, as against 1.25 d for last year. This, together with the fact that the board is selling a very large increased number of units for domestic supply— including water heating—had resulted in a further drop in the average nett revenue per unit sold. It was satisfactory that the board was able to bring this position about, and still maintain substantial increases in revenue received. The amount outstanding at April 1 last was £61,801, as against £74,659 at April 1, 1926, and at September, 1927, £58,296, as against £58,450 at September. 1926. "The position viewed in the light of the increased business must be regarded as highly satisfactory," continued Mr. Bartley. "The estimate for the year ending March 31 next was £575,000, of which it will be seen £309,655 has already been received, leaving £265,345 to be obtained during the next six months. The actual receipts for the latter six months of last year were £250,680, which in turn were £42,900 above the six months of the previous year. Therefore, assuming the same rate of increase the board will have no difficulty in obtaining the revenue that has been estimated for this year.