AUCKLAND POWER BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19743, 16 September 1927, Page 9

AUCKLAND POWER BOARD.

GROWTH OF THE BUSINESS. GENERAL MANAGER'S REVIEW. An interesting review of the operations of the Auckland Power Board since its formation in 1921 was given by the genera] manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, at the monthly luncheon of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce yesterday. Mr. Bartley said that prior to 1908 anybody who desired to use electricity in Auckland had to rely ori the services of private plants. Electricity wan then a luxury. In that year the City Council opened a small plant with a capacity of 300 horse-power on the destructor site at Freeman's Bay. At the date of opening about a dozen city street# had been reticulated, the council entering upon its new venture with only 1.2 cotwuuters. Even in 1920 the number of consumers was only 2124 which was in strong contrast with the total of 46,000 consumers the board expected to have on its books at the end of the present year. In 1920 the plant capacity was 6600 kilowatts; to-day the board had a total available power of 27,900 kilowatt*, or 37,200 horse-power. At the date of purchase from the City Council capital expenditure amounted to £657,975, with a loan indebtedness of £822,500. At March 31, 1927, the hoard's loan indebtedness mas £2,275,500. and its capital expenditure £2,190,875.