ELECTRIC POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 5150, 11 July 1927, Page 1

ELECTRIC POWER.

CONFERENCE REGARDING SUPPLY REPORT OF ENGINEER. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board the chief engineer (Mr N. G. McLeod) submitted a report, on the Power Board conference, which was held at Hamilton on June 9 last. In addition to the attendance of the Minister of Public Works (Hon. K. S. Williams), the Engineer-in-Chief (Mr F. W. Furkert) and the Chief Electoral Engineer P.W.D. (Mr F. T. M. Kissel), there were present about 40 representatives of Power Boards present.

The position regarding supply from Arapuni was outlined and an indication of the present position given by the Hon. Mr Williams and Messrs Furkert and Kissel.

‘ Messrs Furkert and Kissel expressed their opinion that power should be available from Arapuni by the end of 1928. The Minister, speaking as a layman, did not feel too confident that this result would be achieved.

The Department stated its willingness to install additional plant, but proposed that those who took any of his extra power should pay a higher price for it. than they were paying for their present demand. Two of the boards present expressed their willingness to pay an extra amount. The others were not prepared to do so. The department considered that if they received up to £l5 per k.w. for the additional power the amount received would pay about half their cost, the department being willing to pay the other half. Mr Kissel essimated that there would be an increase in load demand next winter of 5000 k.w., and stated that by making usei of all existing plants they could cope with this load. Severn.! of the delegates thought Mr Kissel’s estimate of growth of load was much too low, but whein toe expected increases for next year (obtained from the delegates present) were added up they were found to be less than 5000 Mr Kissel estimated. This indicated that if Arapuni would be ready by the end of 1928 there was no necessity to instal extra generating plant. The feeling was expressed that some of the boards were underestimating their growth of load, that there was a serious possibility that Arapuni would not be ready by 1928, and that it would be a mistake to depend upon t|he whole of the existing plant working without a breakdown. Eventually a motion, “That this conference approves of the. provision of auxiliary plant by the Public Works Department to carry over until the completion of Arapuni,” was put before the meeting and carried unanimously.

“The position at the present time is not at all clear, said Mr McLeod,” as. no communication from, the department has yet been received by the board on the matter. It has been reported in the Press that the department has decided to provide extra plant at its own cost, the Auckland Power Board having received a telegram from the Minister to'that effect. It was reported that the Auckland Board expected that they would have to pay a little more for their power because of this extra plant having to be purchased. If it is the department’s intention to chaa-ge more for this power, the board should protest strongly against it. Apart from the fact that the board caamot afford to pay more for its power, and that the delay at Arapuni is likely to be such that the temporary additional plant will pay for itself without any increased charge, thei principle of. expecting: boards to pay'in the manner suggested is quite wrong.”

. It was admitted that the temporary plant must be paid for, but in their opinion this expens’d should be Capitalised as part of the cobt of the Arapuni scheme. If there was any loss due to the purchase of this plant it would mean that a reduction by the department in the charges for power Weis delayed. z It was unfortunate that 1 the conditions at Arapuni turned out as they had done, .and there was no 1 intention of attributing blame to the department for this. At the same time it was the department’s responsibility to make provision f.or coping with the growing demand. Capital was made by the department at the conference in Hamilton that? it was supplying all the power it had contracted, for. This was only clouding the, issue.. The department was in at least sis good Exposition to estimate what the* load was likely to be as was any other licensee, and with Arapuni in view the’ department would have done more had it obtained contracts for, si’.y, and additional 50'00 k.w. Boards could 'not be blamed for the position, and tihe department, having practically a monopoly, had a right to assume tho responsibility of providing the power.

“As stated previously,” concluded Mr McLeod, “the depsjrt.ment is inraking provision for extra plant, and its prompt action in the matter is deserving of praise.”

It was decided to write to the Minister as follows :—i

“Arising out of the conference held at Hamilton on Thursday, June 9. this board regrets that it has not received any official notification of the decision arrived at by the Public Works Department for making the necessary provision to cope with the power demand until Arapuni is supplying, and that this board ci moot consider taking additional supply at any increase on the rates operating.”