POWER IN THE COUNTRY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20174, 7 February 1929, Page 13

POWER IN THE COUNTRY

JHAMES VALLEY DISTRICT.

FINANCES OF THE BOARD.

CANVASS OF WAIHI PLAINS. JBV TELEGRAPH. —OWN CORRESPONDENT.] TE AROHA, Wednesday. The Thames Valley Power Board met yesterday afternoon, the chairman, Mr. F. JM. Strange, presiding. Tho Central Electric-Power Board advised that the associated banks had reconsidered their decision to increase the rate of commission from i per cent, to 2J per cent.,' and had now adopted a commission rate of I£' per cent. The Tauranga Power Board desired information as to tho possibility of entering into an agreement for a supply of electricity to the Waihi beach by the Tauranga Board. An alteration o'f boundaries was suggested. The chairman suggested that the matter be.deferred pending the result of a canvass of Waihi Plains farmers as to whether they desired the supply of electricity to that district. ' After Mr. Corbett had defined the position of tho board in regard to boundaries it was resolved to reply to the Tauranga Board on the completion of an investigation into the effect of its suggestion. The Electric-Power Boards' Associa-tion-requested an expression of opinion on ' a statement by the chairman ol the Local Government Loans Board to the Poverty Bay Power Board that in recent cases of loans for electric reticulation considered by the Lo3!,s Boaid an estimated life of 20 years has been conside-ed reasonable, and a sinking funa of 2 per cent im- . posed sufficient to redeem tho liability within such term In a covering letter the' association stressed the view that the Loans Board had established an entirely new principle in requiring power boards to extinguish loans in 20 years. It the capital charges were made so heavy in'the first 10 years that the rates charged for current became too high, the natural increase in renewal <vould not bo forthcoming. It was considered that the action of the Loans Board was oppressive. It was resolved to support the protest of the association against limiting the term of loans to 20 years on the ground that such a condition would interfere with the efficient functioning of power boards. The finances of the board Were discussed by the manager, Mr. R; Sprague, in a special, report covering the operations of the past nine months. This showed that £95,761 had. been received in way of . revenue compared with £81,160 for the corresponding period last year. The expenditure, allowing for £3335 for depreciation, provision for which was not necessary 'in 1927, amounted to £95.763. compared with £Bl 042 "The power pur chases," said Mr. Sprague, "have shown a ■-* greater increase for the nine months than in any year since the board's inception."

BAY OP PLENTY AREA. EXTENSION OF RETICULATION. [by telegraph.—own correspondent:] OPOTIKI, Wednesday. ■ Tho Bay of Plenty Power Board met to-day. The engineer's report stated that several extensions of lines had been com ploted and a branch was being erected along the coast road toward the Waiotahi Hiver. A total of 236 route miles of line stringing had been completed. to date. The total number of installations was 1098. The maximum demand during the quarter ending December 31 was 579 k.v.a. at 5.30 p.m. ou December 14. Indications are that the time of tho peak has changed to the morning on account of the connection of factory load. The amount was approximately 700 k.v.a. at 7 a.m. Until the ranges and motors at present applied for were installed it was difficult- to forecast whether the peak load would bo due to milking or domestic load. If the former, a reduction in the peak load might be secured by the introduction of condensers in connection with motors.