ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 141, 19 May 1925, Page 3

ELECTRICAL ENERGY

NEGOTIATIONS WITH POWER BOARD. EXPERTS’ OPINION PROPOSED.. SUGGESTED SALE OF BOROUGH PLANT. The long debated question of the borough being supplied with electric power from Mangahao was again discussed at the meeting of the Borough Council last night. There was read to the meeting a report fnom tho electrical committee stating that a communication had been received from the Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board regretting its inability to accept the council’s offer contained in its letter of the 15th April, setting out the conditions undor which the council was prepared to purchase power through the board. The communication had been “received” by the committee. Or. Fitzherbert asked if the present position was not that the council had made an offer and the Power Board had failed to accept it or make any further offer. POWER BOARD’S LETTER. The Mayor read the letter fnom the Power Board, which expressed regret that, the council’s offer could not be accepted and repeated its willingness to sell power at standard rates plus £4OO per annum for interest and sinking fund oil the line from Bunnythorpe to Palmerston North, and to join with tho council in any deputation to the Minister urranged to endeavour to secure concessions from the Government. COUNCILLOR NOT SATISFIED.

“Neither I nor tho ratepayers are satisfied about this matter,” said Cr. Fitzlierbert. Continuing, he said that, while bo had confidence in the borough electrical engineer, he was doubtful whether that official had had the administrative experience to come to a decision on a matter of this kind. It would not be long, he said before the council would be producing all the power of which its plant was capable, when they woukl be faced with increased expenditure to enlarge the plant. He would like to move (but in the absence of the chairman of the electrical committee, Cr. Jackson, he would only give notice of motion) that the whole matter bo referred to an outside expert—to a man of high character —even if to secure the opinion of such a man meant paying a substantial fee. The expert could advise them on the matter of taking power from Mangahao and also on tho desirability of entering into negotiations with the Power Board for the sale to it of the borough plant and could assist the council in fixing a minimum price should there be a prospect of the deal eventuating. Reports by Mr W. A. Waters, chief engineer of the Power Board, had been before tho public, but. tho speaker did not think that tho maximum amount of electricity that would be required in Palmerston North had been considered. THE BOROUCII PLANT.

Tho Mayor said that it Siad been considered, and answering a further question by Cr. Fitzherbert stated that tho oost of making the borough plant sufficiently largo to copo with tho demands of the future had also been considered.

Cr. Fitzherbert expressed himself as still dissatisfied and adhered to his contention that they should secure an outside opinion. Tho matter should njot be “shelved” for two years as proposed, he said, for by that time they might be in a serious position, lie formally tabled the notice of motion. GENERATING COSTS.

“This might interest you,” said tho Mayor, proceeding to read a note from the electrical engineer. It stated that he (Mr Muir) had’agreed, in deference to a request from the district engineer at Shannon, to supply current from the borough plant to tho local district served by Mangahao power for a short time while certain work was being carried out on the Government line. “This is about the third time that we have given this assistance,” commented tho Mayor. He uddod that lie was pleased that the council could give it for it proved the value of the borough plant as a stand-by medium. He added that they were offered power on a basis of ,797 d per unit, whereas they could generate at a cost of ,698 d. He cited the working of the borough plant during the pust month. Cr. Fitzherbert said that that did not allow for depreciation and the necessity for enlarging the plant if they did not take power from Mangahao. The discussion then lapsed. REPORTS TO COUNCIL.

The borough electrical engineer (Mr J. W. Muir) reported aa follows: — The work carried out by the lines department during the month was as follow : Services run, 92; underground connections, 7; meters erected, 129; meters tested, 124; meters recalibrated, 8; street lamps erected, 10. Street lamps were erected in the following streets: Featherston, Pahiatua, lhaka and Scandia streets and Napier road. During the month Boundary road extension was carried out. The estimated cost of this work was £3O, and the cost as per job sheet was £27 6s Id. Extra phases were run in Fitchett street, and the telephone boxes at Terrace End, Cuba street, railway station and broad street were all connected. The inspection staff made inspections and passed 115 jobs during the month, including 19 extensions, thus making a total of 96 new jobs connected to the supply mains during the month. The toLal number of connections to date is now 2199, and the total connected load, including street lights, is approximately 9899 k.w. The power station returns are as follow: —Units generated, 170,270; coal used, 192.25 tons; oil used, 83.875 gallons; power house peak, 560 k.w. on 7th April, at 7 p.m. Generating costs for the month.—Coal, ,298 d per unit; oil, .Oold per-unit; wages, ,342 d per unit; water, stores and repairs, ,027 d per unit; total, .698 d per unit: The same power if bought from the Power Bourd at their new proposed charge (i.c., standard rates plus! £4OO per annum) would have cost .797 d per unit. The electrical committee reported as follows:—That the Manawatu-Oroun Electric Power Bourd wrote stating that it was prepared to co-operate in the matter of making suituble arrangements for an electrical displuy at the forthcoming Winter Show, und that the engineer was authorised to interview the boards concerned and make final arrangements. That the following extensions to distribution lines were agreed to:—Boundary road, Vogel street, to properties .owned by Messrs Bungate and Bruce, estimated cost £l7 4s 9d, estimated revenue, £l2 10s; Kairanga road, Featherston Street West to Mangaone bridge, including two street lamps, estimated cost £7B 19s, estimated rovenue £3O; Jickell street, for the purpose of supplying current to new pumping station, estimated cost £165, estimated revenue £SO per annum. Extensions not agreed to:—That the committee is unable to recommend the extension of the lines in Ruahine, Manawatu and Scandia streets, owing to the estimated revenue being insufficient to warrant such a lurge expenditure, and that the Hokowhitu Ratepayers’ Association be notified accordingly.— Adopted.