OPUNAKE POWER

Opunake Times, 20 February 1948, Page 3

OPUNAKE POWER

ENGINEER’S REPORT UNIT GENERATION The Engineer, Mr. E. G. Snell, reported as follows for December and January: Power Supply Exceptionally dry weather and low river flow resulted in the power station being shut clown completely on 9 days during the past two months for lack of water. Units generated in December were 100,476 and in January 110,808 a total of 217,344 or 53,217 units less than last year. Units generated for the first ten months of the year now total 1,341,033 or 102,017 less than last year. This reduction was anticipated and is due solely to the shutting down of the station during the black nut periods last winter. There is every indication however, that we shall reach our estimated generation figure of 1,000,000 for the year. Units purchased ex Te Kiri- were for December 005,420 and for January 098,048. The total units purchased and generated 1,580,812 represent an increase on the corresponding period last year of 131,491 or 9 per cent. Most of this increase occurred in January, our weekly allocation of 154,000 units having been exceeded by over 20,000 units during each of the last 5 weeks. In a country hoard such as ours consumption of electricity is so tied to production that there is little or no waste in its use at this time of the.year. Our load normally falls off in the winter months and provided due care is. exercised by consumers there -should be sufficient power available without last- year’s irksome restrictions. The maximum demand on the system reached 1537 KAY. an increase of ■95 KAY. on last year.

Work at the power liou.se included the installation of a 30 K.Y.A. local service transformer and the painting of the''outside walls. Efforts to obtain the services of a builder for the underpiimirj.gr of the Diesel room floor and the repairs to the walls have so far been unsuccessful. Work is proceeding' on the overhaul of the governor in preparation for the semi-automatic running of the station whereby the plant will be run to the capacity of tlie water available with the periodic service and attention of one opeiator. Distribution and Maintenance Work -on the* new bulk, line to Rahotu lias advanced a. further stage with the erection of 44 poles between Ihaia Road and R. Clement’ and between Kiri Road and the State Hydro Electric Department’s substation on Opunake Stratford Road. 49 poles were fitted and erected between Arawliata Road and Iliaia Road and on tlie Kaliui Road. Approximately one mile of the new line on the Kaliui Road lias, been livened and placed in service at 6,600 volts. Low tension wires have been placed on the new poles on the Wireinu Road and extended 22 chains from the Ihaia Road corner to Looneys. 80 chains of copper to A. J. Brennan’s has hsen replaced with T-16 copper and 11 26 foot poles removed.. A further six old poles were removed from -the Wireinu Road near the Arawliata Road. A low tension extension of 25 chains has been completed on tlie Okahu Road to Julian’s milking shed. Lines have been extended in Fox Street, Opunake, and on the Arawhata Road? A 20 K.Y.A. replaces a 10 K.Y.A. on Manila Road to cope with the increasing load on 'this section. A temporary 5 K.Y.A. single phase transformer has been erected at tlie Pariliaka Pali for the use of the mobile Xray unit. A new transformer lias been erected on the Arawliata Road near Fields and a faulty transformer on tlie Ngariki Road lias been changed.

Several truck loads of 31 foot poles have been delivered at Opunnke durino* the period under review and these have been unloaded and carted out where' required. All the poles necessary are now in position on the Kahui and Wirenui Roads. 14 poles have been placed on the loAver Pumho Road preparatory to extending the high tension lines to R. Bell’s property.

So that the line gang could continue with the erection of poles during the fine weather many of the service lines erected during the last tAvo months have been done bv mciphers of the staff not normally engaged on this work, A sendee line to I. Bishop which crossed 0A T er water tanks at the hack of the house was altered to a more suitable position and tjie mains shifted. (Continued foot previous column)