POWER BOARD.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17812, 11 July 1923, Page 4

POWER BOARD.

——« SPRIN GS-ELLESMERE. The monthly meeting of the Springs—filleamere Electric Power Board was held at Leeston on Monday. Present—Messrs ii. Neave (in the chair), J. S. Simpson, J. W. Kime, E. H. Howell, R. T. McMillan, and J. C. Free. The chairman, Mr John Cunninghamfi wa& absent owing to indisposition. Mr J. W. K.ine waa appointed deputy-chair-man. it was decided to arrange for demonstrations of cookers and other appliances at Springston at a date to be arranged later. Discussing the matter of cooking by electricity, a member pointed out that in the case of a farmer consumer who was 'not using as much value in current as hiß guarantee amounted to, it would pay such consumer to put in an electric range, which would use the full amount of current represented by the guarantee. Ha would then be getting the current free until and unless the value exceeded what the guarantee would cover the cost of. The secretary (Mr F. S. Jarman) reported that the last reading of meters showed a substantial increase in consumption over the previous reading, especially in the Southbridge area. Indications were that the present reading would also be a largo one, and should be a basis for current consumed during the heavy months. He had been in touch with Mr H. A. Brown, who had delayed the Dunsandel pole with the intention of seeing that the i names of certain ratepayers were put on the list, otherwise the proposal might be turned down. Mr G. S. Peryman hadi made an offer to cart poles from Leeston and erect them at Springston for 18s per pole. The report o.E the electrical engineer (Mr L. C. Vicary) stated that two ccoking demonstrations had been held in the ehowroom, both of which were successful. During the' month thirteen new lighting consumers had .been connected up and additions made to three existing installations. The poles for the Burnbam wiro had been erected and the running of the lines was in progress. Tw o additional street lights had been fixed. A number of consumers had intimated their intention of putting in milking machino motors. As the revenue from the cookery demonstrations was nil, the Board decided to encourage the use of ranges by dropping the connected load charge, provided the consumer was prepared to enter into a contract for a number of years, with a. .minimum charge of 6s per kilowatt for connected load per month. In view of the fact that a number of consumers had delayed having the hot water hesters installed on account of the high cost of the time-swifch, it was agreed that the Board supply the time-switch for this purpose, charging the consumers 2s 6d per month rental, and reducing the charge from Jd to Jd per unit. In answer to a question, the engineer said that the fact of there being wires in certain places which were too light would affect the supply of current to the lights and iron i!: a cooker were put in. It would cost ICS a chain to put xip the heavier wire, but if the cookers came on in largo numbers the extra sale of current would compensate the Board for its expenditure.