ELECTRIC POWER

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 17 March 1937, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER

WAIMEA BOARD MONTHLY MEETING TO-DAY ENGINEER’S REPORT At the monthly meeting of the Waimea Electric Power Board, held at Richmond to-day, there were present: Messrs F. W. Greenslade (chairman), H. E. Stephens, L. Higgins, W. Max, R. J. L. York, C. B. Webby, and F. W. Gibbs. REPORTS The Supervising Engineer (Mr N. A. Andrews) submitted his report for the month of February as follows: — MOTUEKA Generating plants: Beth plants have operated satisfactorily during the period. Supply operations: The units generated during the month were as follows:—Hydro 73,830; Diesel 1,593; total 75,423 (1936, 69,025). Half-hour demand 196 k.w. (1936, 170 k.w.). The Diesel plant was run for four days, commencing on the 18th, as a precautionary measure against watershortage. There has since been an. abundant supply. There were no interruptions in the supply of h.t. power during the period. A storm on the 22nd caused’minor local interruptions, and the loss of a 5 k.v.a. transformer in Thorpe street. Heavy floods isolated the Riwaka and Tasman areas, where faults could not be attended to until the following day. Installations: The load connected during February, and total connections are as follows: New Total Consumers 3 990 Services 12 Extensions ' 23 Ranges 1 57 Water heaters .... 1 33 Motors 10 410 Connected load 28.79 k.w. 2640.59 k.w. Reinspections in the Borough have been completed. WAIMEA AREA Headworks: The heaviest flood since the Board’s inception in the area occurred on the 26th of the month, and affected the supply of power. The old turbines Were brought into service to assist supply, but the correct voltage could not be maintained for several hours. The stone bar across the river at the intake of the Upper Station was completely washed away, and a new bar has since been built. The Lower Station intake was also affected to a smaller extent. The tail race from the Upper Station, which had become overgrown has been cleared of weeds and growth Of willows, etc. Plants: Both stations are in fair order. Difficulty was experienced on the day of the flood in preventing the water from entering the chain case. The water level in the race reached the 95.8 level. The running hours for the month are:—Upper Power Station 672 hours; lower Power Station 45 hours.

Supply operations: The units required for the month were as follows: Units generated, Waimea, 29,886 (26,125); units purchased, City, 7,918; total 37,804. Maximum demand, City, 44 k.w.; hydro 92 k.w. (72). There have been no interruptions in H.T. supply. Reticulation: Repairs required by the Public Works Department have now been attended to, with the exception of i changes in cable, which will receive attention during reconstruction. A number of services have been reconditioned to comply with regulations, and trees trimmed throughout the area. Applications from 1/9/33 to 31/3/37: ' New. Total New connections 3 323 Alterations and additions 19 337 Total 660 Consumers 3 1038 Connected load from 31/3/33: k.w. k.w. Light and heat 20.3 377.58 Power 10-5 207.97 Total 30.8 585.55 General: Arrangements are being made to complete meter reading over Ihe whole of' the Board’s area at the end of March, after which all borough and town boards will be read monthly, and the County at the end of each calendar quarter.