ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 15, 4 September 1930, Page 12

ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

A. meeting of the Hutt Valley Electri* Power Board was • held last , week. There were present, Mr E. Windley[(eliairman), and Messrs J. W. Metewaß* A- Walker, L. Stewart, W. H. P. Barber, A- W. Press, A. Anderson, A. J. Hobbs, and A. J. McCurdy/ • . BUS STOP SIGNS. The Acting Bus Manager wrote asking the Board for permission, to place bus stop signs on various electric light poles throughout the Hutt Valley. It was decided that permission be granted) subject to the work being dons to the satisfaction of the ErigineerGeneral Manager. 10,000 MARK. INCREASED NUMBER OF CONSUMERS Tlie Engineer-General Manager (Mr E. F. Hollands) reported that it would be of considerable interest to the Board to know that within the next few weeks, the number of consumers will I have reached ' the 10,000 mark and the maximum demand over 5000 X.V.A. To the end of July returns were as follows: Number of consumers 9909, number of ranges 1220, number of water heaters 1038. <\ The connected load at that date read 33,519 k.w. Members expressed their satisfaction and it was decided that the occasion be celebrated in a suitable manner , the arrangements to be left in the hands of the Engineer-General-Manager. METER READING. , The Engineer-General Manager reported that they had been unfortunate in the amount of illness this month. Three meter readers have been off each for several days during the past two week. Consequently meter readings in Johnson* viUe and Eastbourne districts* are I)©* hind. This they wereyendeavouring jfci j rectify as early as possible. RECEIVING DEPOT. FOR CONVENIENCE OF CONSUMERS For some time part the Engineer-Gaa.-eral Manager '(Mr E.F.Hollands) of, the Hutt Valley Electric Power Board has been endeavouring to arrange for collecting, depots in the various dis-. fcricts under the Board Vcontrol.. At Thursday'^ meeting, 'of the Board Mr Hollands reported that arrangements have been finalised as to suitable places for the collection of consumers' W' counts. As. per resolution of the Board a letter was.. forwarded to the: Petono ■' Borough Council advising. them, tha^ their offer to act as collectors! had been approved to them agreeing to open on Friday nights for collection of consumers' accounts, similar to the Gab Board's collections. The Council replied stating their inability to .carry out other than in usual office hours. However, Mr Hollands has made other arrangements for tne convenience of Petone consumers to pay their accounts and reported that, definite ■ collecting depota bare been allocated, the new system to take effect from the first week in September. -. ' v ; The receiving depots in the Hutt Valley are as follows :— Petone.-4-A. E. Jones, Electrical Showroom^ Jackson Street, Petone. Open 10

a.m. to noon. l. :; p.ni. to 3.30 p.m. every Tuesday. v Lower Hutt.—Little ?s Drapers Shop, opposite Post Office. Open 10 a.m. to 3>30 p.m. every Wednesday. < . In reply to ay question as to what the cost of the receiving depots would be* Mr Hollands stated that the whole system would cost nothing, the accommodation being given free. •' '- "The Board viewed the matter with satisfaction. •', .. ' ;.'■ . On the motion of Mr Barber.'second- ] ed by Mr McCurdy, it was decided that : the Teport and recommendations as, ( brought f orwardi by Mr Hollands be ap- ] proved. ' ■ On the motion of the chairman (Mr Windley) a hearty vote of thanks and ' appreciation to: Mr Stewart , for tha .* valuable assistance lie had rendered to Petone censumers in allowing Ms shop to be used as-a receiving depot waa < passed. ' ! ' COMMUNITY LIGHTING. .' VI Mr StewaTt stated that some time ago [a. deputation from the Petone andl Lower Hutt Chambers of Commerce waited on the Engineer-General Manager in connection -with a community lighting scheme and he was pleased to report that the Shopkeepers in one block in Patone have agreed to wire up $heir premises. Mr Holland stated that he had put a proposition to the deputation and. he would present to the board at its next" meeting a new rate for communi.ty lighting. He pointed out to the deputation that the the scheme was made subject te theßoar.d's approval. • ENGINEER-GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT Thy Engineer-General Manager reported for the period ended August 13th as follows:-— / fcervioe Maintenance: Lower Hutt Services at P. and T. crossing brought up to standard-in White's Line East, Thomyeroft Avenue, St. Ronan'« Avotxte aad Fitzherbert Street, and restrained in.'Victoiia Street and Willoughby ■Street.' .-. .. ■.. .'.■■:- '--\ y . ■;. 'V -~ .-' v': Upper Hutt. Services overhauled »» Miro Road, Statibn Road, Gibbons Road, Park Road,% Martin Street Ebdentown. Road, Henry Street, William Street, : Logan Street and Royal Street. - Petone. Qervide* repaired at. foui' ooa.-; nections on Petona Esplanade. '„■■ Eastbourne. Regulation carried on. Marine Parade> Hinau Street, and Pukatea; Street ; alao at Lowry Bay. General Service Maintenance. Several broken services wtye reported during the heavy southerly gale, and repairs to these have been made permanent and necessitated a. considerable amount of maintenance work. Mam Line) Petone Esplanade.—-The whole of No. 2, 11,000 volt feeder from Railway Crossing to Patrick Street was rebound in on Saturday, August 2nd> lines being placed on the sea-side of the insulators right through. Maintenance of H,T. for Radio Inter- - ference.—Eastbourne feeders are now finished and"* the greater part of the fi6oo volt line in Plimmerton, with stripping of insulation and rebinding. - Pole Shifts.—Line poles shifted at request of Public' Works Department on

Western Hutt Road, Belnicmt, to correct alignment. WORKSHOP REPORT Two wire racks have.been made up for . stock and duplicating brackets for. Air Break Switches as required, jS Air Break Switches having been sent out for erection. Transformers and Fergusson Pailin Switches were sent out for Quinns Post, and Sutherland Avenue Substations also pipe .handrails for same. Two transformers put in the oven for drying out, and painting carried' out on several transformers in stock- One man from the workshop has been transferred to the line gang. One 20 X.V.A. voltage regulator filled with oil. REST ROOM REPORT 319 meters were issued to inspectors and service men fcr installation, and consumers readings, disconnections, fuses, etc amounted to 396. Additional meters installed as required, and testing of water heating elements on installations and in the test room, carried out. The number yet to test in Lower Hut't is 268. \ Recording voltmeters have been installed for "tests at Petone Police Station;Birdwood Road, • Lower. Hutt, Manga70a Road, Wallaeevilie, Normandale, Pilinuir Street, Lower Hutt and Belmont. Recording X.V.A. meter also installed at Hutt Pumps and Hutt Bridge Substation, it.V.A. and K.W. readings have also > been taken on Munt Cottrell and Neilson's plant at Petone. 367 meters were, tested. A total of' 99 • services Were run for period. : During' the period 25 poles were erected^ .••;■ ■_ ;■'. ■ .;.;..•. Inspection Department.—During the; period reinspection work has progressed, 184 reinspections being made, involving defects to be remedied in 144. This makes a total reinspected to date of 317. 94 tests were carried out on new installations and 75 inspection of additiona to existing installations. 38 instailations -were'inspected for change oyer of water heating rating.' During the high wind on July 25th one 11,000 volt line fell- in -Tennyson Street, Petone. All feeders were in parallel at the time, and as a consequence a vjiuplete shut down.'was necessary from 10.20' a.m. to 10.-17 a.m. to clear the fault. To enable repairs to be affected, both Eastbourne'feeders had to be cuf. out between 12 noon and 1 p.m. Supply interrupted the same..'day^. dut to the \ bare L.T.mains at the Woburn Railway erossmg>\vhipping; ; togetlier. At approximately 7.45 p.m. a'wild swan fouled the 11,000 volt line on Petone Esplanade, with the result that the three wires of 1 feeder were knocked off the insulator No. 2 feeder was broken and nqe, of No on to tfie arm. The low tension, and dead 6600 volt lines below were also broken. 'Supply for the night was restored on No. i feeder and both feeders were cut out from 6.30 a.m. to 8 a.m. to.affect r&- . pairs,..' . . '.'. ' ; ; ■', •...■..■' Eastbourne No. 2 feeder was inter-, rupted between 7.30 p.m. and 9.15 p.m. caused by one 6600 volt line in tha span at the- Petone Pipe Bridge falling. This was cleared, .and the line repaired on Sunday morning, August >9th. > Weather Repbrt.-7-14 wet days, with heavy southerly gale extending ov^r 28th to 29th July! ■".•"; '..■■.■ . ':The number of consumers to date. 9909. During period 24 ranges -weie inctalled making the total to date 1229, Number of water heaters 24, to date 1038. Number of milking plants to date . MX-■.".: •.-■; ;. ■■■'-■ ■"' : '.:---\; ''-r\ ■'.