POWER BOARD

Southland Times, Issue 21264, 10 December 1930, Page 12

POWER BOARD

MEETING OF EXECUTIVE. The last meeting for the year of the Southland.. Power Board was held in Invercargill yesterday, Mr A. W. Rodger (chairman) - presiding over the following members: Messrs Erskine Bowmar, C. A. Henderson, William Hinchey, D. J. Heenan, Peter Arnott, W. Norman, A. A. Mac Gibbon, Thomas Golden, T. A. Buckingham, and D. J. Rodger. Advice was received from the Town Clerk of the Bluff Borough Council that his council could not see its way clear in the meantime to enter into an agreement with the board to sell the borough’s electrical reticulation system. Chief Engineer’s Report.

The chief engineer (Mr L. B. Hutton) reported on the operations for the month of November as follows: — Power Station.—The month’s output was 1,789,550 units, making a daily average of 59,650. The maximum load recorded was 4,900 K.W. from 11.30 to 12 noon on Tuesday the 11th. This is considerably lower than last year, as is the monthly output. The Lake has been high all the month and a considerable quantity of water has had to be released-to keep the level down to the top of the gates. The month’s rainfall was 5.22 in.

Transmission Line.—A patrol of this was carried out, and the line was found to be in good condition. The overhaul of the telephone on the Gore branch was completed. Winton Area.—The construction party has been engaged very largely in salvaging copper wire, some 20 miles of all sizes having been collected and returned to store. Seventeen service lines were erected in various parts of the area, and several extensions made for new consumers, and the rearrangement of several transformer groups completed. This is a work which requires a good deal of time and investigation, but which, in many cases, amply repays the time accorded it, There were 77 interruptions at the substation, 12 being due to unknown causes. Twentyfive of the others were due to one fault, 14 to another and 13 to another, giving an indication of the trouble than can be caused by a small fault difficult to detect.

Invercargill Area. —A total of 19 service lines were erected, 11 of them being for lighting, 3 for ranges, and 5 for motors. These were spread practically all over the area. One new transformer was erected for consumers, one for replacement, and one for meter testing purposes. Line erection totalled 64 chains of low tension to serve milking consumers and the conversion of 40 chains of low tension from single to polyphase. Some of the copper for the above work was secured by the removal of 140 chains from places where it is no longer required. On the completion of the new Riverton bridge, it became necessary to transfer the overhead line from the old bridge to an underground cable and this work was in hand at the close of the month. In the Tokanui subarea, 33 chains of single phase were changed to polyphase, and 35 chains of 2-wire salvaged. Gore Area.—The main construction partyhave been occupied on the Mat aura Paper Mills extension, practically all heavy work having been completed. They are now engaged finishing the sub-station structure and running the low tension mains. It is hoped to be able to give a supply by the middle of the month. Another construction party has been engaged on services and the lighter type of work, nine services having been completed. They also did part of an 11,000 volt conversion job at Waikoikoi. House Wiring.—Twentyone new consumers were secured, making the grand total 9,074. Thirtythree installations were connected and 58 extensions made to existing installations. Twelve more ranges brings this total up to 1,385 and there were also four new water-heaters. Thirtyeight motors of a total horse power of 54 represent an increase in the milking load. The total additional loading added was 202 K.W. Forty-five premises were re-inspected, bringing this total up to 1193. Secretary’s Report. The secretary (Mr Charles Campbell) submitted the following report:— Electricity Rates.—(a) As at November 30, the cash receipts of the electricity department were £7,378 ahead of the figures for the same period in the year 1929 and £11,572 ahead of the equivalent period in 1928. (b) The cash receipts last week amounted to £2,216 as compared with £1,426 for the same week last year, (c) At this date in 1929 the receipts from general rates were £8,816. On November 30,1930 the receipts were £6719. (d) The position in regard to arrears of ratesis as follows: £545 equivalent to .8 per cent, of rates for the year 1925-26; £509 equivalent to .92 per cent, of rates for the year 1926-27; £637 equivalent to 1.3 per cent of rates for the year 1927-28; £l,OBB equivalent to 2.4 per cent, of rates for the year 1928-29; £4,421 equivalent to 7.5 per cent, of rates for the year 1929-30. Bank Accounts. — The position of the. Bank accounts is as follows: Special Loan account, London credit, £134; Special Loan account Invercargill, credit, £152; Power Fund No. 3 account, credit, £41,001; Power Fund No. 2 account, credit, £946; Fixed Deposit account, credit, £33,000; Total credits: £75,233. On November 30, the overdraft was £40,821 and there is the Government Loan of £15,000. Showroom Department.—Cash Sales in the showroom were £9OO to November 30, as compared with £1347 for the same period in 1929. Credit sales including sales made through the country campaign for the disposal of lamps were £2,730 against £2,572 for 1929. Transfer of Loan Moneys.—Application has been made to the Minister of Public Works asking him to authorize the board to transfer a further sum of £2OOO (from consumers’ repayment of advances) to the special loan account, the amount to be ultimately expended on additions and extensions which will provide a revenue of not less than 20 per cent, per annum for five years. Meter-reading Costs.—Some 3000 consumers in the country districts have agreed to the board’s proposals enabling the board to cut down the cost of meter-reading. Several branches of the Farmers’ Union have, in response to our request, agreed to canvass amongst their members to secure additional consents. A large number of consumers in Gore are also showing a fine spirit of co-operation in the matter of agreeing to accept bi-monthly accounts.. Certain consumers in country districts find themselves unable to see their way clear to accept estimated accounts. A system enabling the said consumers to read their own meters will be submitted early in. the new year.