HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LV, Issue 4497, 28 May 1935, Page 2

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY . MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Power Board was'held in Levin this morning and was presided over by Mr G. A. Monk (•Chairman). Also present were Messrs W. E. Barber, J. K. Hornblow, T. G. Vincent, J. Richards, A. E. Hyde, C. Keedwell and Vickermgn.

The meeting was the first of the newly-elected hoard and Mr G. A. Monk was unanimously re-elected chairman. REVIEW OF YEAR’S OPERATIONS. In a review of the past year’s activities Mr J. A. Smith (engineer) stated:—

“Although the new reticulationcarried out during the year has not been very extensive, a considerable number of consumers have been connected up with the system, the majority of them coming on to the existing lines.

“The E.H.T. lines have been extended one mile, 20 chains, mailring' the total route mileage 176 miles, 9 chains. The chief items were the alterations to lines on Queen Street East, Levin, extensions on Ashlea; Arapaepae Roads, and at Paekakariki. Short extensions have been made to the L.T. lines on Foxton Road; Heatherlea; Manawatu Heads; Waikanae Beach; Paraparaumu Beach; Reikikorangi, Paekaikariki and Raumati, to the extent of one mile, 35 chains, which makes the total L.T. route miles 147 miles, 2 chains. “L.T. lines under existing E.H.T. have been extended along the following roads, Arapaepae, MakeruaTane, Ashlea, Otaki Gorge, Matai, Manakau and Beach, to the extent of 1 mile 32 chains, making a total route mileage of 110 miles 8 chains. Extra phases were run on existing poles in a number of localities.

“The growth and development of the loading in,various areas necessitated the changing of 14 miles, 27$ chains of wire. ■ “There are now 4567 consumers’ service lines in operation with a combined route mileage of 156 miles 19 chains. One hundred and ninety-five service lines, with a route mileage of 5 miles 39 chains, were erected during the year, and a number of existing service lines had extra phases run on account of alterations to the loading. “Six additional outdoor , substations have been built and two removed. 168 transformers are in service on power and lighting, and six on street lighting, with a total capacity of 5095 kv.a. . “Two hundred and thirty-one poles were erected during the year, 51 changed on account of line alterations, and 26 were changed as defective. Of theriatter number, 14 macroearpa, and 4 New Zealand bluegum were service line poles, 8 Australian hardwoods, three of which were on the Shannon E. line, and three damaged by fire. It L interesting to note that up to the present time, only three of the Board’s own poles, have been changed as defective. The total number of poles in service is 12268. “Maintenance overhaul to overhead lines anl equipment has been proceeded with when possible, the areas being attended to are Manakau township; Te Horo township; and Beach Road, Shannon-Foxton Line; Buckley Road to Paiaki Rd; Buffer; Bruce; Florida and Arapaepae S. Roads, and a portion of Levin Borough done in conjunction with the alterations and extensions on Queen Street East. E.H.T. lines from Shannon substation to north of Makerua, and from Levin substation to Qhau via Brute Road, have been overhauled during night work periods. 7

“The following summary shows the extent of the reticulation:—

“Length of 11,000 volt circuits 183 miles 35 chains. ,

“Length of 400/230 volt circuits 257 miles 10 chains.

“Length of Street Lighting circuits: 55 miles.

“Length of Service Lines: 156 miles 19 chains.

“Total length of wire in lines: 2203 miles 64 chains. “Number of Street Lamps: 364. “Number of E.H.T. Insulators:

23,726. “Number of L.T. Insulators, Shacikles not included: 46,620. DEVELOPMENT OF ELECTRICAL LOAD. “A steady development has been maintained during the year with regard to the connections for various services.

“One hundred and ninety-three new consumers have been connected up, 26 disconnected, making a total at 31st March, 1935, 4312. The . extensions made to the existing installations numbered 415. Thirteen new milking sheds have been connected, which makes the total 675. These sheds have 955 milking and separator motors, aggregating 982.7 h.p in use, 47 having been connected during the year. “Fifty six ranges were connected, making the total 639, not including cookers under 21 ik.w. of which there are a considerable number, analysing the figures they show there are a considerable number, that nearly 19 per cent, of the houses connected have ranges installed.

“Fifty-three waterheaters have been connected, making a to.tal of 1076, a ratio of 25 per cent, of the consumers, and 15 small water pumps were connected, 180 being the total of the latter in operation.

“Forty-five industrial motors aggregating 256.8 h.p. have been connected, making the total 604 motors equal to 3349.7 h.p.

“The total of the various connections to the Board’s system amounts to 13778.116 k.w. 1177. 137 k.w. being connected and 482 k.w. disconnected during the *

year. “The total number of units sold was 9,182,842, an increase of 430,966 over the previous year.” TREASURER’S REPORT.

The treasurer (Mr F. J. Rainsay) reported as follows: — “The following is a statement of the revesue earned for the first period of the new year: “Domestic: Lighting, 28,037 units; £919. Commercial: Lighting, 11,267 units; £405. Domestic Heating: 109,148 units; £BO7. Commercial Heating: 17,617 units; £129. Power: 40,467 units; £530. Waterheating £497; malting a total of 206,536 units or £3,287, less discounts £299.

“The net revenue earned for April, 1934, was £3,070. “A detailed comparison with last year’s figures has not been shown for the reason that it is of little value on this occasion. The Easter holidays fell so late in Api’il this year that it was necessary to use one of the office stall to assst the meter reader to get through on time. This had the effect of speeding up the reading with the result that many hundreds of accounts were read some days earlier than would normally have been the case. The period was thus shortened this year, which accounts for the decreased revenue. The position will, however, adjust itself with the next reading in the southern area. “The total outstanding at last balance was £4,073. This is a rise of some £3OO in the ordinary accounts. The same position obtained last year, which seems to. indicate that the rise is a seasonable one.” ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows for the work of the past month: — “During the period 15 new service lines were run and extra phases and extensions made to nine existing lines. Twenty-nine poles , were erected and 219 chains of wire run on L.T. lines. Overhauling was carried out on No. 1 Line, Foxton, and a portion of Union St. and Johnston St. Line patrols. were carried out and three defective insulators changed. Two transformers were changed to a larger size on account, of increased loading. Severe thunder and lightning storms occurred on Sunday and Monday evenings in the central portion of. the area, and on Tuesday afternoon south of Otaki. They caused (short interruptions to the sendee. "Many E.H.T, transformer fuses were blown and a strain insulator at Wallace Rd. was broken down. During the period 20 applications were received from new consumers and 37 for extensions to existing installations, included in which were eight ranges, seven waterheaters, three milting, two separator and two industrial motors. Ten new .consumers and 14 extensions were connected, comprising eight ranges, six waterheaters, one separator motor, a total increase of 83.157 ik.w.”