HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 4409, 25 October 1934, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

AfONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of' the llorowhenua Power Board 1 was held in Levin on Tuesday, presided over by Mr A. Or. M.on'k (Chairman). Also present were Messrs \\ T . E. Barber, J. K. Hornblow, C. A. Keedwell, A. Hyde, Richards, A. Seifert, Vincent- and A. Mackay. TREASURER’S REPORT.

The Treasurer (Air F. J. Ramsay) reported as follows: — Half yearly returns. —AA r ith the close of the first half of the financial year, returns are now presented showing a comparison between the estimated income and expenditure with the actual figures for the half vear.

Income. —The gross sales of electricity for the six months were £22,749, made up as follows: — Lighting £9202, heating and cooking £,999; power £5,268; water heaters £2,637, street lighting £043, a total of £22,749, less discounts £2,135, showing net sales £20,014. The balance of the Revenue, £490 was derived from interest on investments and- deposits £384, cottage rents and sundries £l-12, making a total from all sources, of £21,110. The statement shows the lighting sales to he well over the yearly estimate. This is most satisfactory for, although the Board did not get the same return in the second half of the year, a very substantial increase over last year was shown, and the estimated total for the year

should he reached quite easily. Heating and cooking was always greater during the summer months, and similarly with power, the dairying season bringing up the revenue from this source. Although the revenue showed a buoyancy which was most encouraging and although an increase of £l,lOO over last year was estimated for, it was not anticipated that there would he any difficulty in realising the estimates. Expenditure.— The expondiuvo was as follows: —

Power purchases £8.330; opera-* ting charges £3,110; management and general £2,388; interest, Sinking Fund and principal repayments £6,200; depreciation £595; Public Risk Insurance £100; had debts £250. a total of £20,979. The biggest item of expenditure, power purchases, was less than half the estimated total for the year. It- was expected, of course, that this charge would be greater for the second half of the year, but if the last two years were any guide, an increase of £6OO should

cover it, in which case the estimate for the year would be well within' the mark. There was also a very satisfactory feature of this charge (from the Board’s point of view) in the “flattening of the pealk,” as revealed in the following figures: — Half year ended 30th September, J 933: Power purchased £8,410, gross sales £2i,812. Half year ended 30th September, 3934: Power purchased £8,330; Gross sales £22,749. That meant that there was an increase in revenue of £937 with a decrease of £BO in the cost of bulk power. All the other items of expenditure as shown on the detailed statement were quite normal, indicating that tlye estimates should prove to he fairly close.

General. —With an income of £21,110 and an expenditure of £20,979, which includes a provision of £7,145 for interest, Sinking Fund and* the usual appropriations to Reserve, there is a net surplus on (he half year’s working of £l3l. This, I think, may be regarded as satisfactory when the position at the same period last year was a deficit of £1,344. Experience has shown that if accounts can be balanced at September 30tli there is every prospect of a good year, for it is in the latter half of the year that- we expect an increase of £20,000 in Revenue. This increased revenue cannot, of course, be obtained without ex : tra cost, but I feel sanguine that, provided nothing untoward happens to disturb our normal running, a fair surplus null he shown at the end of this year. ENGINEER’S REPORT.

The Engineer (Air J. A. Smith) reported as follows: “During the period 12 new service lines have been run oil two existing services, 19 poles have been fitted and erected, and 255 chains of wire run. A short extension of the E.H.T. has been put in along Avapaepae Road, south of Roslyn Road, and an outdoor substation erected, and extra phases have been run on existing poles. A short extension to the L.T. has been run from MeLeavey Road along Avapaepae Road. Extra, phases .on existing poles have been run a 1 Hcatherlea and an extension of L.T. has been erected to supply J. Greig, Reikiorangi. The alterations to the main line at Soddon’s corner, Paraparaumu, have been completed. “A detailed examination has been made of poles and crossarms between the Shannon substation, and the Mangaore Power House and it was found that a number of cross-arms and three poles required replacing. The new poles have been erected in readiness for a convenient time to shut down and effect the change over of the lines. A number of poles on the Koputaroa-Paiaki and Paiaki Alill lines have been straightened and hardened up and a start has been made on the general overhaul of L.T. lines and services on the Shaunon-Foxton circuit.

“Installations.—Nine applications have been received from new consumers, and twenty-six for ex-

tensions to existing installations,' included in which are two waterheaters, -1 milking, 2 separator, 3 industrial, and one pumping motors and two ranges. Fifteen new consumers and forty extensions to existing installations have been connected comprising 11 lighting and heating installations, 2 ranges, 4 waterheaters, 8 milking and separator and two industrial. Total increase of 85,015 k.w. “General. —The peak demand for the quarter ending 30th September 1934, was 2105 k.v.a. and occurred between 11.30 a.m. and mid-day on the 29th August. The units purchased during the last two quarters of this year show a considerable increase being 230,370 units or 4..6 above those of the corresponding quarters of last year, which showed a 2.4 per cent, increase over the previous year, 1932.”,