GREY POWER BOARD

Grey River Argus, 19 August 1937, Page 2

GREY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEE I ING. At the ordinary meeting of the Grey Electric Power Board last evening, there were present: Messrs W. H. Parfitt (Acting-Chairman), A. H. mc--1 Kane, A. Robinson, W. Clayton, J. Smeaton, J. Unwin and J. B. Kent. An apology for his absence was received from the Chairman, Mr. J. Mulcare, and Mr. Parfitt was voted to the Chair. A vote of condolence was passed ' with the Chairman and his relatives, in the death of his father. The Valuer General wrote, asking for nomination of Board’s representative at local elections and polls. Mr. J. Unwin was appointed to exercise the votes of the Board. The District Co-operative Coal Miners’ Union wrote, thanking the Board for providing a uniform supply of power, as during the breakdown periods great anxiety had been caused. 7 An amendment to the minutes of previous meeting was passed, to provide that the resignation of the Secretary, Mr. A. J. McDowall, be received as from November 9th. Mr. J. Denford, Waitaki, the newly appointed Secretary-Treasurer of the Board, advised that he would arrive to take up duties about Septemoer 2 or September 4. It was decided that the matter of the Z purchase of the site occupied bj the public morgue for the purpose of constructing thereon a sub-station, be left for the Engineer to make application to the Greymouth Borough Council. Mr. Smeaton asked whether, if the dam had been completed, there would have now been sufficient supply to cope with the demand. The Engineer (Mr. S. Trotter) said that they would have been fully loaded, to the extent of 3,000 k.w. Mr. Kent: Still it would have been dangerously close to the margin. 1 The Engineer said that it would have just covered it. Mr. Clayton: Still you haven’t got much up your sleeve now. The Engineer: No, nothing; but things are getting a bit easier. Mr. Clayton said that, with the fine weather coming on, things would be becoming easier. The Engineer said that it had not calmed down yet, as they were still getting cold mornings. Next month they would lose most of the heating load. Dobson was a big job, he said, and there was a lot of plant there, but they were getting on with it very well. He did not think, however, that the plant would be ready by the end of October, as had been hoped. Mr. Smeaton asked if there would be any additions to the load coming on in the coming year. The Engineer said that there was always a big demand for power. There was Blackwater and other places he could slap into. REPORTS. The Engineer (Mr S. Trotter) reported that units generated and maximum demands for the four weeks ending August 15 were: Week ending July 25, 263,290 k.w.h., 2286 k.w. maximum demand; week ending August -, 252,100—2268; week ending August 8, 271,950—2340; week ending August 15, 260,460—2268; total for four weeks 1,047,800 units. The highest weekly load factor for Arnold Station was 69.2 per cent, and the lowest 66.1 per cent. During the period 59,329 units were fed to the system from the Blackball steam generator with a maximum demand of 210 k.w. at the same time as Arnold mavimum (highest maximum for period 230 k.w.). For the same period 140,835 units were purchased with a maximum demand of 412 k.w. The total of units generated, plus those purchased, was 1247,965; combined maximum demand for period on Friday, August 6, 2,962 k.w. The load factor for the period of 4 weeks was 62.5 per cent. The Blackball generator has had att average run per week of 84 hours in parallel and Westland Power Ltd, have been supplying power to a portion of the system since July 20. The Boards’ load has now reached the 3000 k.w. stage, and with additions to come on when Government power SJ available this will be considerably increased in steps during the coming year. The outside staff have been engaged on general maintenance of overhead lines, annual transformer maintenance and earth testing, inspection and maintenance of indoor sub-stations, erection and changing of transformers, also maintenance of street lighting and connecting services. There have been 24 new applications for supply received and 34 new consumers have been connected, making the total number of consumers now 4066. Extensions and al* terations to 72 existing installations were carried out; four electric ranges and 34 radio sets were installed. The total connected load now is 14,099 kilowatts. The Finance Committee reported: Balance O/d. 30/6/37 £18,486 15s, payments £3,944 16s sd, total £22,431 11s 5d • receipts £5,034 19s lid, balance O/d. 31/7/37 £17,396 Ils 6d. The revenue for the last reading is: Town £2581 Bs, country £2293 4s6d; total £4874 12s 6d. The committee recommended that accounts amounting to £2366 0s Id be passed for payment; that Messrs Chairman and McKane be appointed the Board’s delegates to the Power Boards’ Conference, and the secretary and engineer attend; that the engineer report on the extension when convenient, to Poerua consumers; that the secretary's report be received and adopted; that re Public Works Department control, the secretary ring the Chief Electrical Engineer and report to this meeting as to the state of tne taking over. The Secretary reported that he had telephoned Mr. F. T. M. Kissel, Chief Electrical Engineer, Public Works 1 Department, Wellington, that day 1 and he had stated that the agreement had been signed, but he nad only received it that day. He was | going to the Minister for his signa- < ture that afternoon and he was re- j commending that the Government take over complete control of the re- ; pair work from Monday next. { The Chairman remarked that this c was very satisfactory indeed. s The reports were adopted. 5