OTAGO ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20101, 18 May 1927, Page 2

OTAGO ELECTRIC POWER BOARD.

ANNUAL AND MONTHLY MEETINGS. Tile annual meeting of the Otago Electric Power Board was held yesterday and was presided over by the chairman (Mr P. Briscoe). There were also present: Messrs H. M. Driver, J. Guest. D. Boyd, F. Carson, W. B. Galloway, and J. K. Simpson. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT. Reporting on the year’s progress, the Chairman said that the board’s position at the present stage, so for as the sale of energy was concerned, warranted his offering congratulations on the success of the board's first complete year of electricity supply. Tile year’s progress had been most encouraging. At March 31, 1926, they had connected to their mains in the southern area 848 consumers; by March 31, 1927, these had increased to 1613. At March 31, 1926. they had connected to thenmains in the northern area 285 consumers; by March 31, 1927, these had increased to 815—a total increase of 1295 _ consumers for the year in the whole district. At the same time demand for power for commercial purposes had been very good, and the increase had been approximately 440 h.p. in the southern area and 150 h.p. in the northern area. Some of the most notable of the board’s extensions during the vear comprised the erection of the line to Waipori; the livening of the main lines to Milton, from Milton to Stirling, and from Port Chalmers to Waitati at 33.000 volts; the supply of power to Shag Point, Goodwood, Kantane, Soacliff, Warrington, and Pnrakanui in the north; the supply to Wailiola, Clarendon, Inchclutha, Otauomorno. and Kaka Point districts, and the taking over, augmenting, and'renewing of the Kaitangala Borough supply in the south; and the supply of street lighting to boroughs throughout the whole district. Some idea of the extent of supply might bo obtained from the fact that approximately 1,600,000 units had been supplied to their consumers during the year. A Kiteworthy addition to the board’s area had also taken place in the year recently closed. Tho Lawrence district forwarded a generously signed petition asking for inclusion within tho inner area, and upon its sanction authorised by poll tho raising of a loan of £40,000 for construction and other works. Other districts had sought advice regarding supply from the board, but they must necessarily keep faith with the ratepayers of their own district prior to extending their effftrta further afield, therefore, progress in such quarters was at present reluctantly held in abeyance. In conclusion. ho thanked the members for the generous support accorded him during the year, and at the same time, on the board s behalf, extended congratulations to Mr Collins (engineer-manager), Mr Denforci (secretary) and the board s staff on tlicir close and efficient attention to duties during a most critical period. The report was adopted. ENGINEER-MANAGER’S REPORT.

-Tho Engineer-manager (Mr J. C. Collins) reported that the year had boon one of steady progress. To date they had! substations transforming from 33,000/11,000 volt 35,000/6,600 volt, 11,000/6,600 volt, and 6,600/400/230 volt, a total in all of 165 substations comprising 228 transformers (five of which were spares), having a total capavity of 4800 k.v.a. Those transforming from 6,000/400/230 had a capacity of 2688 kv a. As would bo seen from the table of connected loads, tho increase throughout had certainly been very fair, but ho would fioint out that of the 67 ranges installed 51 were in tho northern area and only 16 in tho southern. Tho use of elec tricity for cooking purposes -was no longer in its experimental stages, a fact of which most of the consumers seemed unaware. It was essential to tho success of the board’s scheme that good economical use should bo made of electricity, and every effort was to be made to bring consumers into lino with those of other boards throughout New Zealand. The balance sheet showed that tho revenue for the year was £13,253 13s sd, and tho position disclosed in Hie statement was a satisfactory one. In tho estimates for tho year 1927-28 it would bo soon that th© estimated revenue was £20,338, or an increase ot ap* proximately 63.6 per cent., an amount by no meons excessive for the second complete year of anv board’s supply. Nevertheless, too much stress could not be laid upon tho necessity of the ratepayers realising tho fact that this revenue could only bo obtained by consumers making every economical use of electricity. _ Pratioally the whole of the_ material required for the Lawrence extension had been on order for some time, and word of arrival of portions of this was now coming to hand. Discounting any unforeseen delays, the main portion of this district should bo receiving supply in September ol this year. They had had many dealings throughout tho year with the of tho Public Works Department, the Telegraph Department, and tho Railway Department. Invariably they had received very courteous treatment that earned no small measure of thanks. COMMITTEES.

Tho following committees were appointed:— . Finance Committee. —Messrs W. B. Galloway (chairman), P. Briscoe, J. Guest, J. K. Simpson, F. Carson, and D. Boyd. Works Committee. —Messrs D. Boyd (chairman). W. B. Galloway, P. Briscoe, J. Guest, J. K. Simpson, and F. Carson. Executive Committee. —Messrs H. M. Dewer, W. B. Galloway, and D. Boyd. MONTHLY MEETING. At the conclusion of the annual meeting the monthly meeting was held, and was presided over by the chairman. Accounts amounting to £5420 3s lid were passed for payment. ENGINEER-MANAGER’S REPORT.

The Engineer-manager reported as fol lows:—

Main transmission lines are reported to bo all in good condition, but some attention to loose insulators on the line in the northern area has been necessary. In the Balolutha district 2005 poles have boon erected to date, and approximately 265 miles of wire run out. Supply has been effected to five consumers close to the I’aretai dairy factory, including two motors. Two extra sub-stations have been installed at Benhar. The men are at present employed in effecting supply to nvo consumers in Inchclutha and erecting low tension at Port Molyneux and Rosebank. In the Milton district 1552 poles and 156 miles of wire have been erected to date, and consumers along the main transmission lino have been given supply. A section of Adam’s Flat line has been completed, and consumers at Clarksville and Kinness road supplied. The men are at present working on _ low-tension lines in Moneymore, and it is estimated that six more consumers will receive supply by May 18. In the Soacliff-Waitati district 705 polos and 64 miles of wire have been erected to date. During the month the men have been working on high-tension and low-tension lines at Mihiwaka, and tho hill above Waitati, and effected supply to Mr Lloyd near Soacliff. The men are at present working on the main road on tho lino to Mr Wenlock’s. In the Palmerston district 1390 poles have boen .sroctcd to date, and the men have ; been employed effecting supply to Preston s, at Goodwood, and running low-tension and houso services at Dunback. At_ present tho men are employed on the line from Waikouaiti to Cherry Farm. The testroom staff has been occupied in drying out and testing transformers, and mainly m earth testing. These earth tests are required by tho Public Works Department’s regulations. At present practically every earth in our southern area has been tested to elite. Motor transport in general has been quite satisfactory, but it is recommended that consideration be given the idea of disposing of the 30cwt Renault trucks, and procuring in the»£ place one-ton Fords, since the great bulK of the heavy work is now past.