WAIRERE POWER BOARD.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIII, Issue 3074, 2 November 1929, Page 5

WAIRERE POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Wairere Power Board was held yesterday at the Board's offices at Pio Pio. Present: Messrs. E. Tolme (chairman), F. Davidson, P. D. Smyth, R. Boddy, C. K. Wilson. M. A. Mackenzie, also F. Harvey, engineer-manager. Leave of absence was granted to Mr. G. F. Nelson.

CORRESPONDENCE. A communication was received from J. W. Long, Kopaki, asking for particulars of cost, etc., of the extension of a line for supplying residents in the Puketawa Valley. The engineer stated that he had made a request for the settlers to make a canvass of the district and supply the Board with the names of all those who were willing to take power, so that the Board could decide whether the proceeding with a line'would be warranted. A similar request was received on behalf of settlers at Kaitangaweka, but it was pointed out that nothing could be done in this direction till the support of the Mokauiti settlers was obtained. A number of requests for supply to various applicants were also dealt with, including an enquiry from the Waikato Hospital Board as to the cost of installing electricity in the cottage occupied by the district nurse at Mokau. A report was received from the Electric Supply Authorities Engineers' Association re instantaneous water heaters, in connection with which it was explained by the engineer that an attempt had been made to put these on the New Zealand market. The report concluded: The whole of the facts submitted in this report show conclusively that the use of instantaneous water heaters in this country would involve supply authorities in an unjustifiable capital expenditure altogether out of proportion to the possible revenue., whereas under the existing storage system, the public are receiving a very satisfactory service at a small fraction of the cost that is possible under the most favourable conditions with instantaneous heaters. A .letter was received from the solicitor to the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association in reply to the Board's enquiry as to liability in a case where one of the Board's power poles had been destroyed as the result of a scrub and fern fire on a consumer's property. It was stated that in such case as that quoted by the board the owner of the property was liable. ■ MAXIMUM CHARGES. Maximum charges for domestic and milking purposes as instituted by the Board twelve months ago, were the subject of a report submitted by the engineer. The engineer stated that the rebates had not been very large. In the majority of cases the maximum had not been reached, or only just reached. The Chairman: There seems to be a lot of people who are not taking the full advantages of electricity as available under this system. Mr. Wilson: There seems to be a feeling among the small consumers that they are not getting sufficient advantage under the present system. Mr. Boddy: Yes, the smaller consumers feel that they are not getting sufficient encouragement. Mr. Wilson expressed the view that three maximums were needed, adding that while the smaller consumers were not getting the best advantage under the present maximum, they had not responded very well. Mr. Boddy: Can they respond?

Mr Davidson: The reason they haven't responded is because the cost of installation is too high. Mr Wilson suggested that with the object of inducing the smaller consumer to use more juice a sliding scale maximum should be instituted. After some discussion in which members generally were of the opinion that the present maximum did not meet the position, Mr Boddy suggested that a special coiirmittee should go into the question with the object of lowering the present charges so that an incentive would be provided for consumers to use more electricity. Mr Wilson: If each consumer took £lO worth per annum, that would mean £2OOO for the Board, which would be very satisfactory. I think that each consumer should be able to use £lO worth of current. It was decided after discussion that the question of the maximum charge should' bo deferred till next meeting and in the meantime the Finance Committee meet to consider figures to be submitted by * the engineer for a rearrangement of the system of charges.

COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS

The chairman reported that he had received complaints from a number of consumers with regard to the power supply, these chiefly being in the nature of fluctuations affecting milking operations. The engineer, in reply to a question, said that a number of these had been brought under his notice and every complaint had been attended to. • The chairman reported that one settler had stated that the power fluctuations in his case had been so pronounced that the teatl cups got such a. grip on the cow that it was difficult to get them off. In the Rira district where the sawmill was being supplied the fluctuations were proving particularly troublesome. Mr MaeKenzie: A number of settlers have come to the office and made complaints which were attended to and they are now satisfied. Mr Wilson: They are not satisfied. If the supplying of mills is going to affecti our service to such an extent, we should not supply them. The settlers with whom we have made a definite agreement must come first. The engineer, as per his report on the matter, recommended that the installation of statiic condensers in conjunction with the motors at Henderson's mill bo considered. This would improve the service given and result in modification of the fluctuations of load imposed on the generating plant. The cost would be approximately £IOO.

After some discussion it was decided, on the motion of the chairman and Mr MaeKenzie, that the consulting engineer, Mr Climie, should be brought up to confer with the Board's engineer at the earliest convenience. The engineer observed that those having complaints should bring them forward. The Chairman: Whatl we want is Mr Climie's assurance that everything at the powerhouse is in order so that the Board cannot be complained of in that respect. The engineer stated he thought that most of the complaints were individual ones rather than that any trouble at the power station was the source thereof. MISCELLANEOUS. The engineer stated, inter alia, in his report that the following work had been carried out since last report:—Three new connections; 3 reconnections; 5 extensions of installations; 2 transfers. Additional load was connected estimated to produce a revenue of-£450 per annum and consists of —15 lighting points; 4 heating points; 1 range; 1 water heater; 3 sawmill motors; 3 pumping motors; 2 milking motors; 1 shearing plant. Estimates had been forwarded in reply to enquiries for 1 milking motor, 1 shearing motor, 1 shed water heater. In connection with the work on the Mahoenui extension, it was decided that, the work should be done by contract with tho exception of the running of the wires, this latter to be dene by the Board's staff.