WAITEMATA POWER.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21161, 19 April 1932, Page 12

WAITEMATA POWER.

BOARD'S SUCCESSFUL YEAR. INCREASED DISCOUNT GIVEN. LARGER SALES OF CURRENT. " The position of the board is highly satisfactory," said (lie chairman, Mr. 11. A. Robertson, in his annual'report presented to a meeting of the Waitemata Electric-Power Board yesterday. " Our unique policy of granting liberal discounts and thus alleviating the load of the consumer has been largely responsible for the sound position we are now in. None of the board members was optimistic enough to forecast 12 months ago a surplus on the year's workings, but nevertheless, although the discount was increased by a rebate of a further £SOOO to the consumers, the hoard actually increased its revenue, and again showed a surplus 011 the year's workings." Apart from the Whenuapai-Waimarie extension, 110 major extensions had been proceeded with during the year. Approximately 55 per cent, more consumers had been linked up than was anticipated. _ During the past, five years the gross revenue of the board had increased from £19,057 to £89,756, reserves from £14,996 to £87,671, the number of consumers from 4070 to 8534, while the average net price per unit sold had decreased from 2.3d to 1.48 d.

Tho secretary and treasurer, Mr. A. Main, reported that the total gross sales of current for the year ended on March 31, 1932, amounted to £85,586, as against £82,262 for the previous year. Discount allowed to consumers for the year amounte.l to £15,573, compared with £11.138 in the previous year. The net profit on the year's working was £1422. A credit bank balance of £24.148 was shown.

The receipts from the sale of current during tho year were as follows, the figures lor 1931 being shown in parentheses Lighting, £29,907 (£28,451); domestic power, £9282 (£7996) ; domestic supply, £14.280 (£13,135) ; water heating, £7720 (£7067); industrial power, £10,245 (£11,876) ; milking motors, £3189 (£2979); commercial lighting, £491 (£341) ; street lighting £6727 (£6890); minimum charges and guarantees, £3741 (£3522). The resident engineer, Mr. F. J. 11. Wilson, reported that the total number of new consumers connected during the year wis 467, or an average of 39 a month. The total units purchased from the Government bad been 13.368,024, compared with 12,451.708. The erection of new lines during the year totalled 19 miles.

A resolution of appreciation of the services of the staff was carried, members remarking on the efficiency with which the year's work had been carried out.