POWER FOR OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1934, Page 10

POWER FOR OPUNAKE

OVER 1600 CONSUMERS NEW CHARGES IN OPERATION. REDUCTION IN BANK OVERDRAFT. The monthly meeting of the Opunake Power Board was held yesterday. There were present Messrs. G. Goodwin (chairman), W. C. Green, J. S. Tosland, A. J. Brennan, R. B. Fleming, E. A. Collins and C. O. Edmonds. The report of the engineer, Mr. D. Fraser, stated that units generated at the power station during September totalled 132,700, the maximum load carried being 490 k.w. These figures showed an increase over the output of September, 1933, of 4701 units and 10 k.w. The Diesel engine ran eight and a-half hours compared with 43. hours for September of last year. Power was taken from New Plymouth on 30 days, the same as in the previous year. The flow of the river had been fairly constant, varying from four inches over to six inches below the spillway. Gorse had been grubbed round the lake and trees planted where some of those previously planted had not grown. Installations connected during the month of September were, the figures for the corresponding period last year being shown in parentheses:—Lighting points 39 (31), heating 5 (8), water heaters 1 (0), field pumps 0 (3), industrial motors 2 (3), alterations and additions 10 (17), reinspections 19 (23). New connections for the six months ending September 30 were, the figures in parentheses representing the connections for the same six months in 1933: Lighting points 216 (177), heating 45 (35), stoves 4 (2), water heaters 4 (2), milking motors 4 (7), industrial motors 3 (3), field pumps 2 (3), additions 52 (25), making the total number of consumers connected to date 1655, and the total connected load 2471 k.w. POSITION OF FINANCES. The treasurer, Mr. W. A. Sharp, reported that the net revenue earned for the first five months of the year up to the reading of the meters in September was £4561 for 1934, compared with £4294, an increase of £357. Lighting and heating was £3242, an increase of £249; power, £1544, an increase of £168; water heaters, £243, an increase of £5; street lighting, £63, the same as last year; penalties, £4O, a decrease of £37. Discounts were £4Bl, which was £lB more than for the same period last year. The new charges came into operation in September and a rearrangement of the reading dates perhaps accounted for part of the increase in the five months’ revenue. The majority of consumers seemed pleased with the new charges and all country consumers had their accounts in plenty of time for payment on the due date each month. Although a net increase of £357 was shown it had to be remembered that from now on there would be a decrease in nearly all accounts, particularly the milking charges, so that a considerable increase in unit consumption would have to be shown to produce the same revenue as on the old charges. The discounts seemed to have been appreciated by nearly all for the total amount loss by late paying had amounted to about £l3, which meant that over 90 per cent, of consumers had paid on the due date. This percentage was fair considering that it was not the first month of the new charges and also that yet there was not the cash available from dairying that there would be in the next few months. The financial position of the board was quite healthy as is shown by the bank overdraft, which was at the end of September £3507 against £6326 last year, and proof that this was not just temporary is the amount charged for overdraft interest—£loB against £156 last year—a reduction of £4B, which represented an average reduction in the overdraft in the sis months of approximately £l9OO. Mr. Green raised the point of the validity of the board holding indefinitely a deposit of £1 made by a tenant consumer on behalf of an installation. He moved that any consumer who had been paying his account regularly for two and a-half years have his deposit refunded. Mr. Brennan supported the proposal. Mr. Fleming opposed the suggestion and held that where the owner of a property would not accept responsibility for a tenant the board could not do so. He did not think differentiations should be made in the treatment of consumers. Mr. Collins also objected to departing from the principle that had been laid down. Mr. Tosland agreed that the board must stand firm to the ratepayers, and considered that the present arrangement should stand. Mr. Edmonds contended that the resolution would treat all alike and would avoid differentiation. Finally it was decided that in cases where a tenant desired an installation £1 deposit be made or a guarantee given by the landlord. It was further decided that where the consumer’s account had been paid regularly for two years the deposit be refunded. The chairman expressed pleasure at the reduction in the amount of penalties. He thought it indicated that things were on the up grade. Mr. Brennan said it was pleasing to see the great number of new connections made during the past six months.