HYDRO OR STEAM

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 32, 6 August 1927, Page 11

HYDRO OR STEAM

WHICH WINS?

SOME OFFICIAL DATA

POWER BOAE-D ASSETS

It. is "well known that hydro stations may be operated mucli inoro cheaply than statious employing gas, steam, or oil power. . . . Both operating costs and revenue are ninch lower in the case of hydro stations, and the relatively smaller original capital outlay required in such stations has the effect of showing a _ corresponding proportionate reduction in capital charges. This affirmation of the economic superiority of hydro-electric stations, in certain directions, is taken from the "Local Authorities' Handbook," compiled by the Government Statistician, and issued from the Census ana Statistics Office, price 7s 6d. In order to compile the statistical tables on which the above verdict is based, the Census and Statistics Office collected information from every electric supply local authority except the Hastings Borough Council ("which withheld consent"); and "as the stations operated by the Government supply power to many local authorities, particulars regarding such stations have been included in the taWes given." CONSUMER RATIO: THREE TO ONE. Considerations of space prevent a full quotation of comparative tables, but the following condensation of comparative figures of hydio-eleetric and steam electric is of interest:— w,, m h p .*• Steam. Hydro. , Number of stations .. o 77 ' Population served 276,924 849 573' Jminber of consumers 44,101 136,797 units generated .... 84,274,543 253,756,202 Percentage non-produc- . tiTe 17.0p.c. 24.4 P.C. ■annual load-factor .. 39.0 47 1 •Gross revenue £543,510 £1,633,493 Working costs £260,935 £700,394 I Capital charges .... £225,103 £750 708 Net profit £57,422 £216,423 1 'Gross revenue— Per unit sold .. 2.13 a ' 1»ld I Per k.w. of max. load £ 24.9 £ 26 66 Working Costs— ! Per unit sold 1.02 d 0.53 d Per k.w. of mas. load £11.0 £11.49 Capital Charges— I Per unit sold .... O.SSiI 0 57d 1 Per k.w. of max. load £10.3 . £12.2 ' Total Expenditure— -■ Per unit sold .... 1.90 c! . 1.13 d Per k.w. of max. load £52.2 £23.0 i Working expenses expressed as a percentage of gross revenue: Steam, 45.02 per cent.; water, 42.88 per cent. Gross surplus (that is, gross revenue, less working expenses expressed as a percentage of capital outlay): Steam, 11.17 per cent.; water, G.»7 per cent. . rates. The factors of (a) gross surplus (that is, gross revenue, less working expenses) expressed as a percentage of capital outlay, and (b) working expenses expressed as a percentage of gross revenue, are shown for the year ended 31st March, 1026. These .factors compare as under, for tho authorities mentioned:— M (b) Ijlt1 jlt Por cent. cent. Auckland (steam) 11.40 45.85 Wellington 10.02 47.14 Curistchurch 14.13 50.91Dunedin ' 11,4s 32.10 Horowhenua -Power Board .. 5.72 'M.SI Hutt Valley Power Board .. 7.08 46.41 Manawatu-Oroua Power Board S.SI) 38.61 Palm. North Borough Council 5.75 43.77 Tararua P.ower Board 4.71 40.78 Wairarapa Power Board .... 6.47 32.00 Southland .Power Board .... 7.17 40.96 ■Auckland, "Wellington, Christchurch, DunedinJ and Southland are, of course, the older undertakings. LIABILITIES AND ASSETS. 'As at 31st March, 1926, the Hutt Valley Power Board was credited with a.capital outlay of £187,280, of which £119,576 was in distribution plant, £40,000 in street-lighting plant and miscellaneous; for Horowhenua the corresponding figures were £160,115, £121,010, and £32,590; for ManawatuOroua, £324,355, £123,126, and £96,----624. ■ , ' _ 3Tor tho same three Power Boards J liabilities and assets are returned as under:— Liabilities.' Assets. £ £ ' I Manawatu-Oroiia 433,008 474,495 Horowhoniia 183,763 200,607 ! Hutt Valley 252,755 234|486 But as the principal asset is revenueearning electrical current, tho real position of any power board will not be j aseertainable until its trading business is stabilised, and until its expenditure and its revenue from sale of current are brought into some soft of definite relationship with each other. Meanwhile, it is' worth noting that electric power boards began operations during the year 1920-21, at the end of which assets (other than cash) amounted to £250,202. At the 31st March, 192G, tho figure stood at £8,283,212 representing £7,734,609 capital expen-' diture and £548,603 stocks and stores.