POWER CONFERENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 14

POWER CONFERENCE.

CHARGES AND GUARANTEES. NEW REGULATIONS SOUGHT. RECOMMENDATIONS ADOPTF.D. [BY TKI.EC.nArH. —OWN COTtRESPONnKNT."] WELLINGTON. Friday. The, annual conference of tho ElectricPowor Boards and Supply Authorities Association was concluded to-day. The conference endorsed a remit, carried by the secretaries' conference, seeking an amendment. to the electric supply regulations of 1929, to enable a supply authority to alter its charges on giving not less than 14 days' public notice, of its intention to make such alteration. It was also decided to ask for another amendment, making if possible to meter rent in addition to the minimum charge for electricity, and as a separate item. At present, it was stated, the electricity and meter rent charges were joined together as one minimum. A report presented by the secretaries' conference stated that in accordance with the instructions given at tho last main conference, the whole question of the regulations covering the erection of lines on a guarantee basis had been investigated. A sub-committee was appointed to confer with a sub-committee of (he Engineers' Association, and the following joint lecommendations were agreed upon. Regulations Regarding Lines. It was recommended that the regulations be amended as follows: —(1) To provide for the extension and erection of all electric lines, whether on existing poles or on specially erected poles; (2) to provide for the erection of a transformer on an existing line; (3) to provide for increasing the capacity of an existing line; (4) to provide that the licensee, and not the consumer. should determine the period of the guarantee. (5) In the case of a consumer or consumers paying tho whole cost of the line, to provide for a guarantee, to cover depreciation, renewals, maintenance and cost of power used; (6) to provide for security to back up the guarantee; (7) to amend the definition of capital cost; (8) to provide that the new owner or tenant of a property served by a guaranteed line should he classed as an additional consumer; (9, to provide for an adequate return on any extra capital expenditure incurred to give a supply to an additional consumer on a guaranteed line. Regulations Board Suggested.

A proposal to defer consideration of the matter for 12 months was defeated, and the recommendations were endorsed by a large majority. Mr. 11. I''. Toogood reported on the conference of the Engineers' Association. He referred to the valuable assistance given by the Wellington City Council during the past year to the association, fie urged that the authorities generally should give their engineers every facility to carry out investigations.

The papers read at the conference were of a very high standard, and centred on the question of economics, which was most important to all supply authorities. A remit from the Engineers' Conference was endorsed, recommending that a board, to 1m known as the Electrical Regulations Hoard, should be constituted by Statute, to take the place of the present advisory committee, which was voluntary and without any statutory authority. Warm appreciation of the assistance given to the conference by the secretaries and engineers, in bringing down reports and recommendations, was expressed, and a motion conveying the thanks of the parent body was carried by acclamation.