Rise in M.E.D. power sales

Press, 28 October 1981, Page 6

Rise in M.E.D. power sales

Sales of Municipal Electricity Department power to domestic consumers in the Christchurch area rose 6 per cent'in the first six months of this financial year, in spite of an 11.4 per cent rise in the retail price of electricity. M.E.D. revenue from domestic consumers was up 17.22 per cent on the same period in 1980, the City Council’s public utilities committee was told yesterday. The increases followed three years of decreased sales. One reason for the improvement is the present changeover process from gas to-electricity caused by the plan to close the gasworks.

But M.E.D. officers said there could also be increased confidence in electricity as a clean, relatively inexpensive energy source. Over all, sales of electricity to domestic, industrial and other consumers rose 16.55 per cent in the first six

months, of the year, representing a revenue increase of $4,451,244 over the same period in 1980. : Councillors were told that the introduction of instantaneous water heaters to the Christchurch market could cause problems if enough people used them and were able to depend on the cheaper night rate for stor-age-type heaters. With storage heaters, the M.E.D. can control its costs by making cuts in water heating curing cold periods, when it is charged more for maximum demand. “The M.E.D. could not control its heat loads if everyone converted to these heaters,” said the committee chairman (Cr Rex Lester). The committee agreed that consumers who installed such heaters, should lose the advantage of the lower night rate.

Mr J. H. Donald, the

M.E.D. General Manager, said it was prudent not to encourage the use of such heaters, even if it was unlikely that they would ever supplant the storage-type heater which was subject to ripple control. Control equipment The M.E.D. may soon start designing and manufacturing supervisory control equipment for its own substations and water works pumping stations. M.E.D. equipment came from an Italian manufacturer until recently, but that company has stopped production of the system used locally. The M.E.D., facing a total investment of about $500,000 if it buys substation equipment from other suppliers, has come up with a local solution to its needs and the requirements of water pumping stations for control and data collection equipment. Mr Donald said that M.E.D. manufacture of a system could waive the waterworks division more than $lOO,OOO. Budget service The Christchurch Household Budget and Advisory Service will probably receive another $5OOO grant from the M-E.D. this year! A grant helped the service remain open last year, and improved its financial position, the service has now asked the council for more assistance. Cr Lester said that a good working relationship had developed between the service and the' M.E.D.'s credit-con-trol section. Meter advertising . No action should be taken on a recent suggestion that advertising could be allowed on parking meter standards, ■ the committee said. 1 Cr Lester said that other New Zealand centres, had experienced visual and damage problems with such advertising. “I find the meters themselves are eyesores, without adding anything to them,” said Cr Noala Massey. But Cr Vicki . Buck said that meter advertising cbuld be attractively done, and bring in revenue at the same time. . . Councillors. were told that ; no recent approaches had been made by advertising firms to have such signs.