BAY POWER BOARD

Opotiki News, Volume III, Issue 321, 11 October 1940, Page 1

BAY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING PROPOSED 1 WAIAWA EXTENSION The monthly meeting of the Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board was held in the board’s meeting-room, Opotiki, on Tuesday. Present: Messrs. W. T. Burrett (chariman), F. Burt, W. A. Gault, J. W. Sumner, J. A. Mitchell, S. O. Spence, S. Maxwell. Mr. J. D. Dicker, engin-eer-manager, and Mr. G. A. Hathaway, secretary, were also in attendance. Mr. Dicker reported to the Board in connection with the proposed Waiawa, extension, and stated that a number of the prospective consumers who had previously indicated that they were prepared to take supply had now intimated they were not in a. position to do so. As the remaining guaranteed revenue was insufficient to warrant the capital expenditure, the board decided that it would not proceed ■with the construction.

ENGINEER’S REPORT The engineer-manager reported as follows for the month of September Line Erection : 22.5 route chains of 40- volt on 11,000 volt lines. 7 route chains of 400-volt line. One 15 k.v. a. transformer erected. To cope with increased consumer loading the following transformers have been replaced with transformers of higher capacity. 1 3 k.v.a. single phase to 5 k.v.a. 3 phase, 2 5 k.v.a. 3 phase to 10 k.v. a. 3 phase, 2 10 k.v.a. 3 phase to 15 k.v.a. 3 phase, 1 15 k.v.a. to 30 k.v.a. 3 phase. Consumers’ Service Lines: 25 new service lines completed totalling 88.28 route chains of lines. 5 service lines removed totalling 11.4 route chains. 3 service lines changed from single phase to 3 phase. I service line altered. Maintenance: Temporary alterations to Taneatua Feeder on behalf 6f Lands Department; dredging operations at White Pine Bush. One

11,000 volt KFP switch replaced with a new type. 24 transformer structures and fittings overhauled and repairs carried out where necessary. 2 11,000 volt fuse switch insulators replaced. During tho month the following interruptions occurred on sections of the board’s system: 6th. Sept. Wainui branch, 2.15 p.m. to 5.30 p.m.; 10th. Sept.

Waimana. feeder, 7 a.m. to 7.2 a.m.; 26th. Sept. Waimana feeder, 2 p.m. to 2.10 p.m. (arranged); 27th. Sept.

Waimana feeder, 2.8 p.m. to 2.25 p. m. (arranged); 29th. Sept. Paerata branch, 9-45 p.m. to 10.5 p.m.; 30th. Sept. Waioeka branch, 5.55 p.m. to 6.40 p.m. ; 30th. Sept. Ruatoki branch, 8.10 p.m. to 9.20 p.m. 16 consumers’ service lines overhauled and repaired. Consumers Connected to 30th. September, 1940 (during the past month): Ranges 5 k.w. and over, 11 new connections, 3 re-connections, 2 disconnections, 676 total to date. Ranges 2 k.w. up to 5 k.w., 86 total to date. Total ranges, 762 total to date. Motors (excluding milking

and bulk supply), 1,2, 1, 200. Shops and offices, 1,2, 1, 267; houses, 18, 10, 11, 1944. Pumps, 3,2, 1, 498. Dairy water heaters, 7,7, 7, 630. Domestic water heaters, 8,8, 5, 786. Total water heaters, 15, 15, 12, 1416. Milking plants, 4,5, 3, 718. Separator motors, 9,1, 2, 401. Total consumers, 10, 1,2, 2131. Total connected load in k.w. P.W.D. Supply: For the above month there were no shutdowns. General: Due to the increased cost of time-switches I have imestigated the possibility of installing an alternative system of automatically controlled relays. The system comprises a main control unit installed at each transformer at a cost of £63 10s each, and relays costing £2 8s each in place of time-switches costing approximately £7 7s each. In the case of transformers supplying 13 time-switched water heaters, the cost of the new system would be identical with that of time-switches; but would show an appreciable saving in areas of more than 13 time-switches. Tho majority of our transformers aro well below tho 13 time-switch category, and due to the capital outlay, not suitable for the introduction

of the relay system; but a definite saving would result if installed in the Opotiki Borough, Ford Street West, transformer area. If installed in this area, at a capital cost of £219 10s, 65 time-switch-es would be released at a replacement value of £477. At present stocks are available in New Zealand and subject to the Board’s approval, the Ford Street transformer area could be i ompleted during the coming month.