Power board to dispense with mobile ‘office'

Press, 19 November 1982, Page 30

Power board to dispense with mobile ‘office'

Central Canterbury Electric Power Board subscribers will lose the services of the mobile account-receiving caravan. “The cost of running the service has risen to a disproportionately high level in relation to the use being made of it,” the general manager, Mr P. D. Rutledge, told the. board’s monthly meeting. Receipts issued by the caravan represent less than 4 per cent of the total board receipts and only 2 per cent of the total annual revenue. Less than a tenth of all

potential users avail themselves of the service. A rise in the incidence of violent crime nationally has also given the board another reason for looking seriously at the viability of the caravan.

The service will finish on January 31, 1983.

Consumption down

Because of an exceptionally mild October, the board recorded a “disappointing” drop in power consumption.' . Units consumed for the month represented an increase of only 4.22 per cent for the year to date, against an earlier estimate of 6 per cent..

Mr Rutledge said the decrease in demand was only temporary and he was confident consumption would reach the estimated 1 figure for the year ending on March 31. Akaroa supply The board has taken steps to correct supply problems associated with the high holiday demand in Akaroa. Long-term measures include the strengthening and perhaps duplication of the 33kV line between Motukarara and Duvauchelle. As an interim measure the board has purchased a transformer with more efficient voltage control

Finance Mr Rutledge said that although expenditure during

the last six months was generally in line with estimates, there were two main areas where firm control was needed to prevent overspending. Sales were on target at $9.9 million for the last six months but money spent on buildings was $102,000, against a yearly estimate of $161,500. The $712,000 for substation and ,systems control was also disproportionately high in comparison with the yearly estimate of $1.3 million, Mr Rutledge said.