WATER HEATING

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume LVI, Issue 88, 19 November 1935, Page 6

WATER HEATING

CHARGE TO CONSUMERS,

CONSIDERATION BY POWER

BOARD

In his to* the SpringsEllesmere 'Power Board yesterday, the engineer (Mr L. C. Vicary) recommended that the board should give the consumer the option of either installing a change-over switch with the range, or the board to instal a time-switch for water heating.

Discussing the engineer's proposal, Mr Neave said that there was a possibility that all consumers might wish to have the power at the same

time. *-,

The engineer said that in making the arrangements this possibility would be considered and the off periods would be spread as much as possible over the 12 hours. It was necessary for the board to control the water heating, otherwise there would be trouble later on. The peak load had gone up again last month. Mr Neave said that he favoured unrestricted supply. The more restrictions imposed, the less chance there was of extending the service. The engineer agreed, but he would like to know when the peak load would occur. Last month it was between 7.30 and 8 p.m. He quoted figures showing the various times during the past year at which the peak was reached.

Mr Hunt remarked that the shifting of the peak showed that the board was levelling up its load.

The chairman (Mr G. Maginness) suggested that the consumer should be consulted as to his wishes in this matter.

In reply to a member, the engineer said that the cost of time-switches for water heating would be £600. With the installation of the switches it was proposed to have only one charge for water heating. Mr Hunt pointed out that the charge of 10s per annum worked out at Id per unit.

The engineer said that the cost to the board at the switchboard at Addington was, for October, .403 d per unit.

Mr Neave thought that thermostatic control should be installed. It would save wastage of current.

The engineer said that many of the hot water cylinders were not designed for electrical heating. In many cases they were not conveniently placed and the results were not satisfactory.

Mr Neave thought it would be better to lose a little on water heating and give general satisfaction to the consumers. The board should not consider only one unit in a consumer's installation, but should consider from a profit point of view the return from the whole of the installation. It was decided to ask the engineer to produce a report on a number of households having water heating, on a profit or loss basis. It was also suggested that Mr Vicary should obtain the opinions of as many as possible of the consumers with hot water services.