Order mistake may be bargain for board

Press, 10 December 1981, Page 13

Order mistake may be bargain for board

A mistake in ordering may turn out to be a bargain for the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board. Earlier this year it ordered four 33kV transformers from Sweden, but the wrong models arrived. Subsequently, the correct transformers were delivered, but the board still has to decide the fate of the first four. The assistant general manager (operations), Mr K. C. Lewis, said that the "wrong" models were standard units that the board had in use at rural sub-stations, and would probably be required for the Mead substation in two years. "We use three of the transformers at each substation, and so we would have one spare,” he said. The original tender price was $9168, but Mr Lewis said that if the board made an offer of $5500, it would probably be accepted by the manufacturer’s agents, rather than having to accept them back. “It would be a very good buy at that price,” he said. The board agreed to make the offer. Radio change The board plans to change its mobile radios to the FM band to improve reception. Mr Lewis said that because the Post Office was reallocating radio channels, problems had arisen with the performance of its present AM equipment. A switch to the FM channel would result in reduced interference and improved coverage in areas poorly served at present, he said. “We have had a test with the FM sets, and they were good,” said Mr Lewis. The board agreed to the change at a cost of $68,400, spread over the next two years. The present sets had to be improved because of Post Office regulations, and so they would be saleable, Mr Lewis said.

Advice sought The board will seek legal advice on whether it should charge the Sockburn Recreation Centre electricity at the domestic or commercial rate. The centre now pays the domestic rate, but because a previous clarification obtained by the board showed that the centre was in direct competition with the Harewood Recreation Centre, for hirers or squash players, it should be charged the commercial rate. The Hornby District representative, Mrs J. E. Woodham, said that she was against the change in classification. The regulations which the board used to determine whether a consumer was

domestic or commercial were as “clear as mud,” she said. The chairman, Mr C. W. White, said that the regulations were laid down by the Electricity Supply Authority. “I do not think that we can go contrary to these,” he said. Mrs Woodham criticised the fact that there was no consistency in the charging for sports clubs and recreation centres. Mr White said that the matter could be discussed fully at a later date if the board wished. In the meantime, the Sockburn Recreation Centre should be advised that a classification change from domestic to commercial would occur on April 1, "subject to legal confirmation.”