HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18356, 23 March 1923, Page 12

HYDRO-ELECTRICITY.

municipal enterprise.

SUCCESS OF LOCAL SCHEME.

EXTENSION OF THE SEKVICE The enterprise of Tauranga Boroi%-h in establishing a hydro-electric installation has been rewarded with noteworthy • success. Profits now total £2000 a year, the initial rates levied during the early stages of the scheme have been refunded < to the district fund. An extension of the profitable service is now essential, and the programme of development is in hand. The service was first brought into effective operation in 1915, and time and again its outstanding value to a district that still suffers the handicap of comparative isolation {from 'fuel supplies, hut been emphasised. Its development has been steadily progressive. The scheme had an initial capacity of 300 horsepower; its capacity now is 1100 horsepower, and provision has been made for extensive development of the range of service, and the installation of additional generating plant at McLaren Falls, on the Wairoa River. The projected new station will give an ultimate capacity of 4000 horse-power. As coon as increased power in available the area of service will be extended. There ' are now 850 consumers in the district served by the enterprising borough'* scheme and the annual revenue is approximately £11,000. Three years ago the earnings were only about a-third of that sum. The net profit last financial year amounted »to £2000. It is anticipated that the rafc» of profit will be about the same year, owing to the increase in interest 1 ( charges. The system is self-supporting, and requires no assistance in the form of a special rate. The supply of electricity is entirely a municipal enterprise, and is likely to remain so indefinitely, though it may in time he linked up with the State scheme for the East. Coast- It is anticipated that the borough will be in a position to supply power to the State Department. Overtures have already been made to that end. Effect of Moderate Charges. As one of the pioneer schemes, the Tauranga enterprise has proved very serviceable as a guide to the promoters and controllers of supplies of electricity in neighbouring districts. These have been influenced by the methods, rates, and i genera! success of Tauranga's profitable system. Experience in Tauranga has 'enabled different authorities to ' establish a sound working basis as regards a suitable tariff for the supply of electric jipwer to dairy farmers ana other settlers m country districts of the great Auckland Province. Tauranga has always aimed afl| keeping prices at an encouraging standard,' and the effect of comparatively low rates has been to the general advantage of the community served by the borough's hydro-electric installation. /' : Electric Heating and Cooking. - One of the outstanding features of the Tauranga supply is the increasing popularity of electric appliances for tie supply of hot water for domestic purposes. A very large number of houses have been equipped with such hot-water systems, and it is said that there are aa many if not more electric water-heaters in Tau-

ranga than in th« whole of the rest of the Dominion. "The installation ia not more expensive than the provision of high-pressure hot-water system, and the charge for power is only from 6s to 12s » month. Many Tauranga householders speak appreciatively of the boon of electric power for the supply of hot water in generous quantity. It has often been said that electric cooking would never be a complete success, and even expert engineers have discouraged the use of elejtrioity for cooking. The experience gained in Tauranga has rather demonstrated the opposite result, and certainly encouraged the belief that electric cooking will eventually become very popular. Preparing for Development.

The Tauranga Borough also supplies power in bulk to the To Puke Town Board, which has a license to supply the town district with electricity. With the advent of additional generating units, the borough will increase its service to industries throughout, the district. There are many applications for power in sight. The present range of supply is approximately 30 miles, with about 80 miles of transmission lines. Steps are being taken to form an electric power board for the Tauranga district. The Borough Council is making arrangements to supply the projected board. The town of Tauranga is fairly well lighted, there being 100 electric lamps for the streets. Many of the residents would like to see more lamps installed about the outer portions of the town, but if they ever feel discontented, a visit to some of the suburbs of the metropolis would quicken gratitude.