BULK POWER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23401, 18 July 1939, Page 15

BULK POWER

SCHEME FOE, AIR BASES CONTROL BY GOVERNMENT AGREEMENT WITH BOARD An agreement under which the Government will take over control of the supply of electricity to ordinary consumers and to large buildings within the boundaries of tlio Hohsonville air base and later at the Whenuapai air base was approved at a meeting of the Waitemata Electric-Power Board yesterday. Mr. A. Main, the manager, stated in a report to the board that the estimated cost of a double-circuit line and metering equipment was £6ooo. Under the agreement the Defence Department would pay the board 10 per cent per annum of the capital cost of the line and equipment. The board would be obliged to erect a line between the Henderson sub-station and the points of supply. Should it be necessary to reconstruct the line to cope with a larger demand at any time, the J)efenco Department would pay an additional 10 per cent per annum of any such additional capital outlay. From time to time the• board would remove the distribution lines and other equipment at present used to supply the retail consumers within the boundaries and any underground cable in use would be sold to tho department at a price mutually agreed upon, stated the report. The supply in bulk to tho two air bases by an independent double-circuit line was satisfactory to the board as regards both improved revenue and improved supply conditions, said Mr. Main, who stated that the basis of charges for supply had been carefully considered.