Electricity Supply in the City

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 44, 22 February 1938, Page 8

Electricity Supply in the City

FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR FIRST NINE MONTHS OF YEAR The returns of the Palmerston North City Council's electricity department for the nine months' working ended December 31 were tabled at last night’s meeting of the council by the electrical engineer (Mr. J. W. Muir). These were as follow, the figures for the same period of the previous year being also supplied for comparative purposes: —

the above figures, ’ ’ Mr. Muir stated, ‘ * that the 1936 period was that in which we were using the generating plant, and the figures quoted were later subject to an amendment in accordance with the agreement arrived at with the Power Board and the Public Works Department. Such adjustment increased the expenditure for the 1936 period under review, by approximately £3OOO. This, for instance, therefore, means that the increase shown for the item expenditure, generation and purchase of power, is approximately £2623, instead of £5623. “The annual Public Works statement showing the results of the different supply authorities for the year ending March 31, 1937, has come to hand. The Palmerston North figures, considering the fact that our supply area is much smaller than most of the other cities, are, in comparison, quite satisfactory. “For the units sold per consumer, with the exception of Auckland, Palmerston North’s return is higher, with 2230, than those of the other cities. “The average revenue per unit sold figures show that Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch, sell electricity at a slightly cheaper rate than Palmerston North, Wellington slightly dearer, aud Invercargill more than double. “The working costs per unit sold, .574 pence, are comparable with those of Auckland and Christchurch, and lower than Wellington. The Dunediu figure, .274 pence, is due to the fact that that city does not purchase power in bulk, as they own their hydroelectric scheme, the item power purchased being included in the working costs. This is reflected again in the capital charges per unit sold, where Dunedin’s cost is .402, as compared with .167 pence for Wellington and Christchurch. “Palmerston North’s total cost per unit sold, of .832 pence, is beaten by Dunedin (.676 pence) and Christchurca (.732). Wellington (.879 pence total cost) is 5 per cent, higher, Auckland’s .916 pence is 11 per cent, higher, and Invercargill’s 1.583 pence is 90 per cent, higher.’’

1937. 1936. £ £ Revenue sale of electricity Revenue • current sold for 38,691 36,229 water heating Subsidy received from the 5,573 5,243 P.W.D On cost included and cost1,125 Nil ings Total revenue, including on 872 592 costs .. Expenditure, generation & 52,551 48,179 purchase of power . .. Expenditure, distribution 22,976 17,353 costs Expenditure, overhead 2,887 charges Expenditure, total gross rev. A/c Credit balance, fitting and trading A/c 29,391 23,092 rev. A/c Balance net revenue A/c. 23,160 to app. A/c 14,427 ‘ ‘ It must be realised n comparing