ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21167, 27 April 1932, Page 15

ELECTRIC POWER SUPPLY.

TRANSITIONAL PERIOD. CHARGES AGREED UPON. Adjustments between the Public Works Department and the Auckland Electricrower Board in respect of the cost of current supplied by the board during the period from March 31, 1932, until tho Arapuni plant is able to take over the full load, were finalised by the board yesterday, when a letter was received from the Public Works engineer at Hamilton, Mr. T. McLennan. The engineer suggested that power supplied by the board from the end of March until April 15, when Arapuni was brought into partial operation, should be paid for at the same rate as tho board had been receiving when Arapuni was closed. For the period from April 15 until Arapuni was able to take the whole load, the department would pay the board half ihe capital charges on King's Wharf and the net operating costs for the period. The department also wished to ascertain the cost of maintaining King's Wharf as a stand-by station. Tho board's manager, Mr. R. H. Bartley, reported that ho had replied stating that the offers seemed acceptable. Detailed figures of the cost of maintaining King's Wharf would be available when the balance-sheet was prepared in two weeks' time. The staff had been reduced to a minimum. Two boilers were kept with light steam up and a banked fire maintained under the other. It was more economical to use two turbine sets, one. of 15,000k\v. if tho load carried was over 4000kw., and one of 5000kw. if it fell below that figure, ar.d this was being done. The hoard approved Mr. Bartley's acceptance of the offers.