POWER SERVICES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19474, 2 November 1926, Page 12

POWER SERVICES.

AUCKLAND BOARD'S OUTPUT. REVENUE SHOWS AN INCREASE. DOMESTIC SUPPLY POPULAR. The Auckland Electric-Power Board mat yesterday, the chairman, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, presiding. A financial statement covering the past six months was submitted, showing that the revenue in that time amounted to £264,300, leaving £208,200 to be earned in the coming half-year to reach the level of £472,500, estimated for the year ended March 31, 1927, No difficulty was anticipated in exceeding this estimate. One of the facts shown in the statement was the comparative falling off in the number of consumers' applications, from 4617 to 4021, this being attributed to the fact that most of the principal districts in the board's area had been opened and reticulated. The total number of consumers connected was 35,439, as against 27,127 a year, ago. On. the other hand, substantial increases were shown regarding domestic and power supply. Revenue from domestic sources of supply-amounted to £63,122 in the past six months, as against £38,123 during the corresponding six months last year. Revenue from power supply totalled £63,265, as against £53.033 Most Districts Served. Power supplied to the city tramways totalled 9,412,184 units, compared with 8.980,825 during the corresponding halfyear of 1925. The revenue from this source, however, was £50,954, or only £437 greater, this being due to the fact that the charge to the tramways had been reduced from 1,35 d to 1.25 d per unit. On the other hand, lighting had produced a revenue of £84,024 (£70,491 during the corresponding six months of last year), and street lighting £12,524 (£5,933). The number of units sold iff the past six months totalled 32,559,965, compared with 23,707,690. Commenting upon these figures, the chairman said they showed that the board's finances were £56,000 better than in November, 1925. While there was no reason to anticipate a lowering of the ratio of increase in future years, it would be interesting to observe the extent of domestic extensions and improvements as a source of revenue in. place of straightout lighting. As far as reticulation was concerned the board had practically completed its area and tho thickly populated districts were very wall catered for. This was shown by the falling off in tho number of applications. Reticulation Work. The general-manager, Mr. R. H, Bartley, reported that unti.l the completion! of ' the Government hydro-electric scheme the board's policy must necessarily be one demanding a certain amount of caution, as the board was to a Very great axtent debarred from exerting all the energy it would like to on the lines of " load getting," except, in cases where the greater part* of the load would not be required until hydro-electric power was available. 1 ; ' The chief engineer, Mr. A. O. Glasse, stated 1 that the various gangs engaged in reticulation work; , had erected • , 2470 poles, in fche'last three months. A-total of 369J mile% of overhead cable had beep erected, and ;15.61 miles#of underground cable had been laid, It was the largest number of poles ever erected in a threeincnthly period. v v. .