ELECTRIC POWER.

Grey River Argus, 8 July 1926, Page 8

ELECTRIC POWER.

AUCKLAND’S SYSTEM. A STEAM PLANT. Mr B. J. Clarke, of the Auckland Power Board, when talking to an “Argus” reporter recently, stated that electricity was an interesting subject, but it had its problems, which ‘were very difficult to work out at times. ‘Six years ago, the Auckland City Council had a small steam plant with a generating power of 7000 kilowatts. Then the Auckland Power Board was formed, and, as the Minister would hot permit several small power boards, the new Board had to take over the Auckland City Council plant. To-day the Board owned a steam plant generating 22,000 kilowatts. Thus, in less than six years, the Board had more than tripled its load. In addition, the Board had been successful in floating a loan of a quarter of a [million, which it will spend in carrying out extensive operations, and in making additions to its already large plant. The fact that the loan was being floated at 97 at London was sufficient evidence to prove that the scheme was a sound one, and would furnish good returns. The main idea of the Auckland Power Board, he said, was to strike as low a rate as possible, without suffering any actual'loss. The charges for private residences at present were 5d per unit for the ' first h ,-enty-five units, 3d for the second, and IJd "for over 50 units. Por commercial places, the minimum rate was 61d. The country residents paid 10 per cent, additional to the city rates. The Board had a heating system which works out at an average cost of £0 a year to the householder. A large number of colleges and big institutions, which paid a little more, were having heating apparatus installed. So great was the demand for power that the Board had to make 200 installations per week. Regarding the comparison [between steam power and hydro power, Mr Clarke said that steam was undoubtedly the cheaper, provided that the generating plant was erected near a coal lease and the freight thus almost eliminated.