OPUNAKE POWER BOARD

Opunake Times, 16 September 1941, Page 4

OPUNAKE POWER BOARD

# monthly meeting Units purchased and generated during- August totalled 500.520. an increase of l-l per cent., the first time in tlWjA'istorv of the board that the mnits f or a month exceeded half a million, it was reported at a meeting- of the Opunake Power Board on Friday, when the need for continuing restrictive measures introduced last June to conserve power was emphasised.

Meters read in August covered the northern area from Rabotu to Puniho, reported the treasurer, Mr. CaSsels. Ihe total sales less discounts totalled £1270 compared with £1093 for the corresponding period of last year an increase of £IBO, equivalent to 16.4 per cent. The nett increase for the five months April to August was £770. When the increase for August was grouped with the increase for the July 'readings of the southern area and Opunake borough the nett increase m electricity revenue was liner cent. Prom past experience it was known that the increase in units required to produce a revenue increase of 11 per cent, would not he less than 14 per cent. Should the increased revenue he particularly high for water heaters the units increase would he higher still.

“Consumers appear to be B ’ e . s " ponding to the appeal to _ avoid waste in the use of electricity, Mr. Cassels continued. “The necessity for a continuance of these efforts still remains, and in the meantime we have no authority to relax any of .the restrictive measures put into operation in June.”

The generating plant operated satisfactorily during August, renorted the engineer. Mr. E. G. Snell In spite of several noons no trouble was experience! at the head works. Because of windy and wet weather troublemen were kent busy. Considerable, jnt er'ruption to supply at night might be expected during the coining month when the change-over to the new sub-station would occur and the erection of heavier wire on Eltham Hoad would be done. Milkers would not be affected by the interruptions, said the chairman, Mr. G. Goodwin. There would be times when water worth! not he as hot as usual, but that would be the full extent of the inconvenience. The hoard reaffirmed its policy of disconnecting subscribers whose accounts were overdue. The treasurer reported tnat the response to the' proposal to change the'exchange honks at the Opunake and Rahotu exchanges on Sundays and holidays from 8 a.in. to 8 p.m. to 5 to 11 a.m. and 2 to 8 p.m. was 'very encouraging. It was necessary f°r the Board to secu're the approval of T 5 per cent of the subscribers on the Opunake and Rahotu exchanges to agree to the change and to date 53 per cent of the subscribers on ihe Opunake exchange and 54 per cent of tbe subscribers on the Rahotu exchange had signified their agreement to the change. So far only three definite refusals had been received. Mr. Gassets stated that the public had responded well to the appeal made to conserve electricity but there was a necessity for continuing restrictive measures introduced in Tune. Mr. Cassels indicated that the board could not supply people who wished to replace coal ranges with electricity.