POWER FROM HORAHORA

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 6 January 1930, Page 10

POWER FROM HORAHORA

DIFFICULT YEAR. AT WORKS. Heavy overload conditions have been experienced at the Horahora hydroelectric power plant during the -past year, and the period has been a, very difficult one from an operating point ot view. Tire plant has not -been as successful as in past years (states the Hamilton correspondent of the “New Zealand Herald”). The capital invested in the works totals £1,142,346. The revenue amounted to £135,511 and the operating expenses to £76,231. A credit balance of £59,280 is .shown on the year’s working, and lias been used in paying interest and 2 per cent, depreciation. The net result lias, been a loss on the year’s operations of £15,291. The scheme now lias a depreciation reserve of £103,187. a sinking fund of £52,161, and a reserve fund of £32.115. the lasi-named having been depleted by making good the loss on Die year’s working and the replacement of assets destroyed by fire. The capital mentioned, on which capital charges have had to be paid, includes £524,621 which has been .spent on lines ami .sub-stations which will ultimately be supplied by the Arnponi '.scheme. At present these stations are) supplied from Horahora. There has been heavy wear on thy machines consequent on the large amount of silt in the river after the diversion operations at Arapuni. A serious fire at the Horahora transformer and switch-house put the plant practically out of commission for some hours, but strenuous efforts on repairs bv tlio staff, together with assistance afforded by other supply authorities, enabled the department to keep all the consumers supplied on the following day and thereafter, except for occasional short periods of overload causing low voltage in places. The steam generating plant at Waihi and the Diese-l generating plant at Penrose ivere both operated as required throughout the year.