WAIPORI POWER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 61

WAIPORI POWER.

CHEAPER - ELECTRICITY. Tn his report on the electricity and power supply department of the City Council’s activities, the engineer (Mr M. C. Henderson) reviews the year’s operations, and also makes reference to the great growth of the domestic supply. “The past year has been one of steady progress,, in marked contrast to the previous year, when the Exhibition provided a great deal of temporary work in all branches,” states Mr Henderson. ‘‘There has been no increase in generator capacity, although the maximum load reached during the winter—viz., 10,040 kw., compared with 9400 kw. for the previous year —indicated that another extension would be required for the winter of 1928. ’ As pointed out in last year’s report, it had been intended to install this machine at the dam, and tenders were called for a 5000 kw. unit to operate under a head ’varying from 110 ft to 55ft. While these tenders were under consideration in October it became certain that there was going to be prolonged delay in proceeding with the extension to the dam, owing to the fact that the opening up of the foundations required for the increased height revealed poorer class rock than Lad been found in the original excavation, and than what the previous investigations had indicated. Under the circumstances it was considered wise to postpone further action on this development until a full report had been received on the raising of the dam and a decision had been come to on the maximum height to which it could be economically raised, as this would determine the size of the generator and the design of the turbine. This delay upset the plans formed for future development at Waipori briefly outlined in last year’s report, and the unexpected increase in load between the close of the financial year and the date of this report has made it essential to adopt another alternative method of providing for the further increase that may confidently be expected in the winter of 1928. A new 3000 kw. unit has therefore been ordered, and is due to be delivered by the end of this year. Another of the 1000 kw. units will be. removed to make room for the new machine. This extension will involve an alteration in the route of No. 3 pipe line, and the opportunity will also be taken to place it on concrete piers so that it will be open for inspection at all times. It is proposed in due course to treat Nos. 1 and 2 pipe lines in the same wav. It .also means the installation of another 6000 kw. bank of transformers, but very little alteration to the power station ’or switch gear; there is good reason for confidence that the plant will be in operation by the end of the present financial year. •

The work in the mains branch has consisted very largely in renewing overhead lines that have been in operation for many years, and in every case much heavier copper has been used to movide for the domestic load which is growing at a great pace. As an indication of this fact may be noted the number of units supplied for this purpose in 1927 compared with 1925—5,654.000 and 2,035,000 respectively —an increase of 171 per cent. At the same time the average price has dropped from 3.934 "t-o 1.827 per unit; in other words, the revenue derived in 1927 from the same number of units sold in 1925 for domestic use was £18,300 less than in the former year, so that the increase of 171 per cent, in sales has been accompanied by a decrease of 54 per cent, in average price.. It is pleasing to note also that the average price obtained for all purposes has again dropped by 6£ per cent. Ranges in use at the end of the year numbered 370, with 428 water heaters in addition to those connected in the Otago Power Board’s area. The change over

to meters in the country districts formerly charged on fiat rates has taken longer than was expected owing to the number to be done and the alterations necessary to the switchboards, but it is now practically completed, and there are already indications that one of the purposes for which the change was made will be fulfilled—viz., encourage the use of heating and cooking appliances among the farmers and at the seaside.