DISTRIBUTING LIGHT AND POWER.

Shannon News, 10 July 1923, Page 3

DISTRIBUTING LIGHT AND POWER.

ERECTION OF LINES ABOUT TO COMMENCE.

PROGRESS IN HOROWHENUA

Tlhe .work of preparing the main and service lines in readiness for the time when the current will he. available from Mangaliao is progressing steadily in the Horowhenua Electric Power Board’s district.

•Speaking to <a “Chronicle” representative* last week Mr -Overton, the Board’s Engineer, explained that ol the 5000 poles under order, half have now been, landed in New Zealand, and of these nearly 800 have been carted on to the proposed lines, where a start will be made with the erection as soon as weather permits. The poles at'present being carted o ; u|t are for the purpose of the main lines to connect .the Boroughs of Levin, Shannon, Foxton and Otaki, where switching stations, similarly operated to; that at Levin, will he erected. As. was previously explained, these stations are. not for the purpose of breaking down current, but for controlling the various high tension lines composing the District’s net-work.

The Board’s first allotment ol the 120 Q horse power will he taken direct from Maiigaihao, and at various points in the district will be broken down to 230 volts for lighting and 400 volts for motors, which will be the power used along .the service: lines, outside, transformer centres or breaking-down stations being established lor this purpose. These service lines will be proceeded with almost immediately. An Installation Inspector is shortly being appointed, who will meet prospective customers and explain fuilly the whole process of installation, costs, etc.

The Board’s policy is naturally to supply first, those points, which will return the largest immediate revenue, so as to insure the scheme paying from its inception, and this policy will be followed consistently. The more consumers a certain length of line will serve, the less will be the cost of service per head to the Board, and those parts of the district.where all, or practically all, the residents are consumers will receive first attention.

Immediately, the, prospective consumer has decided on the installation required and contracted . with the* Board for the necessary power, whether for motors, cookers, lighting service, or all three, arrangements will be made to connect them with the mains, and he may if he so desires, save .expense by assisting in the erection of his service line. Consumers will be at liberty to arrange with any firm to do the work of install Lion, which, however, must come up to the Board’s by-laws, and be passed bv the Board’s Electrical Inspector. The arrangement with the private installation company can be made by each individual if he chooses to do so, but the system found most satisfactory m other districts has been to form what are called “groups.” Under this arrangement a number of consumers group together, and through placing a large order, much more, satisfactory terms can be. arranged. Where required the Board is prepared toi finance consumers up to 75 per cent, of the. cost of installation, in which case the work must be done under the supervision of the Board’s Electrical Engineer, the Board attending to the letting of the contract for installation payment, etc. This advance will be repayable over a period of three years, iaind collected as an addition to the cost of electricity.