ELECTRIC POWER

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 14, 17 July 1923, Page 6

ELECTRIC POWER

NEW CITY SCHEME

SUPPLY TO THBEE MAIN AREAS.

Art important stage in the establishment of the hew city electrical system, which, all being well; Should be in full operation early next year", "is nbw nearing completion. Afc three-points in the city large brick and concrete buildings for the housing of the electrical plant are in courae of erection", and ■ the construction work.will be'-'finished iri five or six weeks. Outwardly ( it might appear that the scheme is further advanced than it is, but the fact that the buildings themselves are having the finishing touch® put to them does ■ not mean that the internal work has been attended to. Machinery is-coming to hand m instalments, and everything is expected to be in readiness at the beginning of the new year for the first change-over from the present method of supply. The new power station at Jvrans Bay will then become the source ol generation, the power being distributed through sub-stations at Jervois quay, Mewtown and Evans Bay respectively each of. which will supply its immediate vicinity. The converting stations will receive power direct from the main power station at Evans Bay; breaking it down to the requirements of the districts they control, and supplying • the whole of the distribution for tramways large private power for lifts, etc lighting, and small power users. Later on, when power becomes available from -Mangahao, the ■ sub-stations will receive energy from the Government breakingdown station at Khandallah, at a 'pressure of 11,000 volts, converting it in the same way as before to' the standard required. - - -

The necessity for three main distributing stations arises from the large growth of the city since the present independent power and lighting, stations were established. The extension of the outtymg. districts Has made, it increasingly difficult, on account of the length of distribution lines, to adequately serve the outer areas, and under the new scheme each mam district will be supplied from a separate converting plant, in much the same way as it receives its water from a reservoir connected with the rnaiir source. As the. city continues to grow the number of these sub-stations will have to be increased. Tho principal srib"■station will, be that in Jervois quay, winch will be the largest breaking-down pomtpas it will have to meet the greatest demand. The installation of tht machinery at this station has not yet commenced, but the foundation beds . are laid and advice is expected any day that the plant has been dispatched from England The station at Newtown, situated at the foot of Constable street will bs a much smaller building, and will supply the south-western portion of the city. The plant in this area will be automatically controlled, and will requu'e no personal attention. The " machinery: is the first of its kind manufactured in Ti.ngla.nd, and will be the first installation on T the automatic principle-, in the h,r ' >a}f'\ I Slmii ar l)iant- manufactured outside the British Isles, is olready in use in Christ-church. The fact that the station will be entirely self-con trolling will moan a considerable economy Kesidente in-the viciuitv are ast\Z ■ •$ v S .eJ e.ctrical- engineers that they will be subjected to no inconvenience froni.the presence of the sub-station, for the machinery is to" be installed in .t.sound-proot building; which will not ba unattractive-in, its external appearance; in accordance .with a request made by a deputation to the City Council some tune ago two show; windows are to be built on,the street, front fqr the purpose of displaying various' electrical appliances, so that the frontage will not he unsightly The third sub-station Will be o-^ted at Evans Bay, in the large building erected for the accommodation of the steam pjant. AH the converting stiticcs will be connected up both with Manphao-and with -.the steam plant wnich, m addition to being utilised to reinforce the Mangahao power at peakload hours will be of essential service m the event of a breakdown at the, main source of hydro-electric generation. ■ lho laying- of the cibles for the new system was commenced some days a"o Power , n bulk wffl be delivered from Evans Bay to _ the city substation nt. Jeryois quay m two circuits. The cables wil pass overhead, across the Town Belt to the top of Majoribanks sheet, toll™ V' Plu»ge. underground and follow the course of the main streets. Majonbanks:street is how being opened up for this purpose. Later on. it is intended to t lay two underground cables f om the Jervois quay sub-station along ■no tl tl* T 4' iOT k shoH dist^ce- *«a dniui, the G°ve.™m.ent station at Khalidallah. The other connections with th'a Newtown station will also be made in due course. Ihe new generator for installation _ at Evana ; Bay, weighiiig- 23 rvSl Vf."V ll!oBde? -from" the stiamer . Lnmberland yesterday - : tfotfh? :if^ n«e^eA'.« l>eing madeOT that the city ser.vices may ruli oh nhintemipt^y while, the. change-bye" I being effected from the old to the new g-stern. Eventually both the preset iiannyay and lighting power stations will, be scrapped, the former probably being used as. a store house, and thelatter haying already been selected as a site for public baths. .. . ■•: .: . ...