OPERATING UNDER HEAVY LOAD.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19286, 16 April 1928, Page 6

OPERATING UNDER HEAVY LOAD.

ASHBURTON POWER BOARD'S SYSTEM. The present extent of the Ashburton Power Board's System and the increas-' ing use made of electric services has so greatly exceeded all expectations, that, without considerable reinforcing, the system is in danger of being heavily overloaded. From time to time in the past, the Board has taken such measures as wore necessary to ensure the safe and efficient working of its system, most important of these being the installation of Automatic Switchgear in its main sub-stations. Previous td this installation the Board's protective equipment was becoming inadequate to keep the very greatly extended line mileage working Avithout hitch.. Small linoiaults were resulting in /annoying . interruptions over large areas. :■ Now., any,,minor fault causes .the automatic equipment' to reclose the. switch, and the lino' continues to.give unbroken service. With' the new equipment, even bad faults can Effect only.; comparatively"small areas. The other problem of the overloading of the,.system (nearly, 1400 kilowatts are being carried by a system designed_ for, an.sultirnato.load of. 600 kilowatts) is one that has now to-, he faced. The provision of main feeder Jines and transformers will enable the Board to take advantage of the greater carrying capacity _of the remainder of the system. .To effect these adjustments, and so have a system capable of carrying whatever Ibads are likely wjthin the next : few years, the Board will require about £15,000 per annum in additional capital. The £90,000 loan proposal is in effect a request to the ratepayers that the Board be placed in a. position to the further revenue, estimated at £SOOO annually, that will result .from-the constantly increasing supply of. electricity. ' —6