ELECTRICAL GEAR IN SUB-STATIONS

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21384, 29 January 1935, Page 6

ELECTRICAL GEAR IN SUB-STATIONS

THOROUGH RELIABILITY NECESSARY The importance of ensuring thorough reliability in sub-station switchgear was emphasised by the electricity department of the Christchurch City Council in its report to the council, last evening. The committee reported its consideration of 16 tenders for the supply of four sets of 11,000 volt switchgear, stating that it was most disappointing to find that some of the tenderers, despite the request for complete information, had not supported their tenders with enough descriptive matter. Having regard to the quality of the equipment offered, compliance with the specification, and the completeness of the supporting information submitted with the tender, together with the importaftce of the reliability of the switchgear being purchased, it was recommended that Messrs A. D. Riley and Company's tender be accepted. The following offers had been received:— £ s. d. A. and T. Burt, Ltd. .. 1731 3 0 Richardson McCabe and Company .. .. 2036 18 8 Turnbull and Jones, Ltd. 2100 0 0 A. D. Riley and Company .. , .. 2110 10 6 Cory Wright and Salmon 2251 0 0 National Electrical Co. .. 2254 811 Metropolitan Vickers Co. 2372 5 0 Vickery Electrical Co. .. 2396 4 6 Allum Electrical Co. ~ 2457 17 3 A. D. Riley and Co. .. 24*73 19 0 Tolley and Son. .. 2587 7 6 British G.E. Company .. 2616 10 0 National Electrical Co. .. 2626 15 11 John Burns, Ltd. .. 2639 6 0 Reyrolle, Ltd. .. .. 2702 16 8 Asea, Ltd. .. 3583 10 0 Two More Sets The equipment covered by these tenders was requireu for sub-stations already built or being built,, but since tenders were adveftised the loadbuilding campaign had, been undertaken, and it might be necessary to build two new sub-stations before long. It was therefore recommended that the number of sets of switchgear required be increased, from four to six, which, on the basis of -Messrs A. D, Riley and Company's tender, made the total expenditure £2994 2s lid. Before the report was adopted, Cr. H. T. J. Thac.ier asked for an explanation of the complaint made by the committee. He said that the council wished to buy British, and that it seemed unsatisfactory that such a department £s the electricity department could not send explicit requests to the Oltt Country.

Cr. T. Andrews pointed to the discrepancy the amounts of the

lowest and highest tenders, and said that this indicated the supply of insufficient information. " Cr. M. E. Lyons, for the commits tee, said that the matter could pfob' abl'v be explained by the great measure of specialisation among electrical supply firms. .