SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21020, 8 May 1930, Page 17

SOUTHLAND POWER BOARD.

ANNUAL REPORT. (Special to Daily Times.) INVERCARGILL, May 7. The annual report dealing with many of the affairs of the Southland Electric Power Board has been prepared and forwarded to members of the board by the secretary (Mr diaries Campbell) and the chief engineer (Mr L. B. Hutton). The report is to be submitted for adoption at the annual meeting of tlie board, to be held on Tuesday next. The report, of which the following statement forms the first section, inter afia. indicates that the board now serves 8784 consumers from 2380 route miles of line. The outstanding financial features of the board’s year, which ended on March 31, are summarised in the report as follows: A decrease in working and general expenses of £5320 below the previous year's costs, and an increase in cash receipts for electricity sales amounting to £3324 above the previous year’s figures. An increase of £8637 in debits. ‘ Reduced capital expenditure, the year’s outlay being less than £BOOO. Large reduction in bank overdraft, the amount on March 31, plus Government being £63,832. compared with £87,472 at the end of the previous financial year. Government assistance by way of a temporary loan of £15,000 at 5J per cent. Profitable year in trading department. Large reduction in installation account balances due by consumers, the balance being £11,330, against £18,615 last year. Increase in sinking fund investments, the total now standing to the board’s credit being £204,584. Large reduction in interest charges for the year, compared with the previous year. Introduction of proposals for making considerable savings in meter reading costs, etc. Large increase in bank exchange on transfers to London, this year’s exchange being £IB6O, against £686 for the previous year. For every of revenue from the sale of electricity the working costs, plus all general charges, were £4O. compared with £SO 16s for the previous year. ‘ For every £IOO of revenue from the sale of electricity the annual capital charges for interest and sinking fund were £IOO, against £lO9 for the previous year. The increase in the number of units generated amounted to nearly 950,000 over the previous year’s total. . The highest half-hour peak was 6980 k.w., compared with 5610 k.w. for the pervious period. The increase in the number of consumers for the year was 486, bringing the grand total to 8784, which is equal to one consumer for every five heads of population. ' In the retail area an increase in the connected load of over 3000 k.w. , An increase of 186 ranges, 990 extensions, and 300 motors. The report states that the board now has 90 per cent, of the houses in the country reticulated area connected with the board's mains. Of the balance many find it impossible for varying reason—insecure tenure. Crown lease, house to be rebuilt in a year ov two, long distance service line involving financial burden, etc.—to install electrical equipment. In the meantime the facts show that the consumers are getting more efficient in the use of their appliances, and this means, of course, that they are more economical in the consumption of units. The board was able, however, to make an increase of 8J per cent. (£8337) over the previous years debits of the Electricity Department. - The aim throughout the year was to increase the revenue and to cut down costs. Members would be able to testify that a number of the proposals submitted in that connection were successful in their results. The industry, efficiency, enthusiasm, and behaviour of the staff and employees generally was the subject of many unsolicited _ testimonials throughout the period. Visiting officials, who were competent to judge, were not lacking in praise of what was being accomplished. As _to the future, the forecasts were promising to get more from revenue and less from rates. Upon those who were not doing their fair and reasonable share towards the legitimate revenue rested a substantial share of the unfavourable balance, but a suggestion to deal with that position had now been put forward. It would be noticed that the capital outlay per consumer grew, but still remained very hign. The solution lay in an increased number oi consumers. The revenue per k.w of maximum load was small, which was due entirely to selling in bulk to the uty._, The working costs per k.w. of maximum load were good. They compared more than favourably with other supply authorities in the country districts. The average consumption for domestic lighting, heating, and small power purposes amounted to £5 5s Gd for the year, the average priceper unit being 5.33 d in the case of milking motor consumers. The year’s average consumption was £l6 Is 4d, at an average of 3.47 d per unit. The Gore Borough consumers gave an average income for light, heat, and small power of £6 13s 9d, at 4.13 d per unit. Country ranges produced on the average £ll 15s 8d for the year, while the Gere- ranges gave an average income of £lO 10s. The average for water heaters in the country was £4 5s 7d, and in Gore £2 7s 6d, the price for cooking and water heating being Id and lEi respectively. The statistics regarding consumers showed that the total number of consumers for the ' year ended March 31. 1930, was 8784, whereas in 1926 the number was 5547. The years in which tlie_greatest increases were shown were 1927 and 1928, -when the number of consumers rose respectively 1448 and 1036. The increase of 486 this year included 91 consumers taken over from the city as being outside the boundaries, but even allowing for this unusual increase the figures showed that both the contractors and the board’s staff had been busy canvassing. For the year just ended there was an increase of 186 ranges- for 483 consumers, 91. of whom came from the city, reducing the normal figure to 395. The proportion of ranges to new consumers was high, being at the rata .of one .to every 2.12. The connections of motojs was < also gratifying, showing as it Aid that’' Ihere was a distinct tendency towards the recognition of the fractional horse-power motor as a farm necessity.