HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

Manawatu Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 4903, 23 February 1938, Page 3

HOROWHENUA POWER BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Horowhenua Electric Power Board was held in Levin yesterday and was presided over by Mr G. A. Monk (Chairman). Also present were Messrs C. Keedwell, A. E. Hyde, A. Richards, A. Seifert, T. G. Vincent, F. W. Vickerman, W. E. Barber,and R. 0. Hornhlow. The treasurer reported as follows : The statement of revenue earned for the period ended 31st January, 1938 is as follows, the figures iu parentheses, being those for the same month last year:—

Domestic supply and week-end: 2363561 units, £19737 (1869819 units, £20024), an increase of 493,. 742 units but a decrease of £287.

Domestic water heating: £3672, (£3090), an increase of £582. Commercial lighting and heating 494691 units, £6125 (390880 units, £6,004), an increase of 103811 units and £l2l.

Commercial water heating £2,202 (£2111), an increase of £9l. Power: 1749512 units, £l2Bll (1652944 units, £12450), an increase of £96568 and £361.

'Street lighting £BB7 (£947), a decrease of £6O. Guarantee £22 (—), an increase of £22.

Totals: 4607764 units, £45,456 (3913643 units, £44626), an increase of 694121 units and £B3O. Less discounts £3780 (£3904). Final totals £41,676 (£40,722), an increase of £954.

It will be seen, stated the treasurer, that there has been a very substantial increase in the revenue earned. The net increase in electricity sales has increased from £491 reported last month, to £954, the increase of £463 being accounted for chiefly by the inclusion of the week-end accounts, the comparative figures for which are: — 1938 214,382 units, £2,664 revenue; 1937: 172,070 units, £2,297 revenue, an increase of 42,312 units and £367 revenue.

In this connection I would mention that each year a number of the larger consumers arrange "to have their accounts changed to the permanent rate so that the actual increase is considerably larger than that shown in the above figures. The “week-end” accounts av«i>. posted at the end of January and it is pleasing to report that since that date there has been a steady flow of payments from these consumers. Practically half the accounts have been paid already, although the final date of payment is not until 28th February. Sundry Debtors. —Current accounts £2,677, hire purchase accounts £5,847, a total of £8,524. The current accounts show a slight decrease on the amount disclosed last month, whilst the amount under Hire Purchase accounts' has increased by £74 owing to further sales. The report was adopted and accounts amounting to £5,110 19/11 were passed for payment. The engineer (Mr J. A. Smith) reported that during the period 29 new service lines were run, four existing services were converted to three phase, two existing services were extended and two temporary services put in. One hundred and .seven poles have been fitted and erected, and 905 chains of wire run on E.H.T. and L.T. lines. Three outdoor substations were erected, and an existing substation strengthened and altered. The extension of the Opiki and Poplar Grove lines to serve the Opuhi Block were completed and are now ready to be put into service. Extra phases were run on existing poles at Manakau, also heavier cables were run. Temporary lighting was erected at the Levin racecourse for the annual A. and P. Show, and the Levin Main St. coloured fighting removed. General maintenance was fairly heavy during the month, due to severe gales and attention was given to poles in the Paraparaumu and Makerua districts on account of fires.

Installations. —During the period 15 applications were received from new consumers and 17 for extensions to existing installations included in which were 9 ranges, 8 water heaetrs, one milking, three pumping and six industrial motors. Twelve new consumers and 64 extensions to existing installations were l connected, included in which were seven ranges, 10 water heaters, three milking, four industrial and five pumping motors. The total increase to the connected load was 153.178 K.W. Authority was sought to purchase against quotations being received, the following poles: 20 40 ft., 25 38ft., 50 35ft., 50 33ft., 50 30 ft., 50 28ft., and 50 26ft., at an approximate cost of £1,150. The report was adopted and the engineer was instructed to make his purchases according to quotations.