POWER SUPPLY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 51, 23 November 1929, Page 16

POWER SUPPLY

SATISFACTORY RETURN Wanganui, November 22. “The revenue from the sale of electricity for last month amounted to £7012, this being £394 less than the revenue for October, 1928,” said Mr. I’. 11. Smith, managing-secretary of the Wa-nganui-Rangitikei Power Board, at the monthly meeting to-day. “This is a satisfactory return and shows a very substantial increase in the consumption of electricity.” When taking into account the reduction in charges at rates operating in October, 1928, the returns this year would show an increase of £950 for the month. An offer to shopkeepers to have unlimited lighting during the two months, based on accounts for .September lighting, had met with a keen response. The effect of more extensive lighting was thus made available without heavy additional cost to the consumer, and the benefit to the board of better illumination would ultimately be reflected if the increased demand was sustained. Extensions in several sparsely-populated areas had now been supported by sufficient guarantees, and although there appeared to be no justification for holding an expensive stock of transformers and poles for those lines which, when first investigated, were not sufficiently supported, it now happened that extra construction gangs might have been employed for a few months past to cope with rhe work. Australian hardwood poles had for many months not been available owing to various shipping troubles, and an order recently placed on a most definite assurance of delivery had not been fulfilled. At this time of the year, when there was not much lost time, cross-country lines could be most economically erected, and delay in delivery of material therefore caused a serious loss. Belay in the delivery of the new plant had prevented the Imlay Freezing Works from taking supply from the board, and it would not be until the middle of December that the change-over would be effected. The revenue for the month or October was as follows: —October, 1928 j Consumers, £6619/6/10; trams, £371/15--; street lighting. £414/13/9. October, 1929: Consumers. £657/2/9; trains, £342/15/3; street lighting, £412. Totals: 1928, £7405/15/7; 1929, £7OII/IS/-, a decrease of £393/17/7.