POWER FOR OPUNAKE

Taranaki Daily News, 12 January 1935, Page 2

POWER FOR OPUNAKE

RIVER FLOW DIMINISHES MORE BULK POWER PURCHASED. SOUND FINANCIAL POSITION. That the board would have to depend less on the rivei- for its supply of electric power in future years, as each year saw the supply of water in the river diminishing, was the opinion expressed by members of the Opunake Power Board yesterday, when commenting on the increase in the amount of bulk power purchased. The returns showed that there had been an increase in the revenue for the nine months’of the year so far expired, and the chairman remarked that the position was very satisfactory as the increased revenue despite the reduced charge would more than offset the increased expenditure caused by the dry weather necessitating the purchase of additional bulk power. There were present Messrs G. Goodwin (chairman), A. J. Brennan, J. S. Tosland, R. B. Fleming, T. P. Hughson jun. and E. A. Collins. A net increase of £250 in the revenue earned up to the December reading as compared with the corresponding nine months of the previous year was reported by the treasurer, Mr. W. A. Sharp. The detailed figures were as follows, with these of the corresponding period of last year in parentheses: Lighting and heating, £4907 (£4607); power, £3374 (£3380); water heaters, £43** (£449); street lighting, £lOl (£101); penalties, £4O (£123). Penalties had not been charged since September. The gross total was £8856 (£8660) and net revenue £8064 (£7814). The net increase, he considered, was very satisfactory because of the way the revenue was keeping up, though all the milking consumers were getting the benefit of the cheaper rates, It was interesting to compar. the units and amount of revenue derived from power, which included milking and industrial motors, for the December readings. In December, 1933, there were 46,492 units charged up at £685, in December, 1934, there were 51,745 units charged up at £667, an increase of 5253 units at a decreased cost of £lB, or in other words had the revision of rates not been made the revenue would have shown an increase of about £75 on the month. CONSUMERS USING MORE. Lightning and heating showed a similar tendency although not quite so pronounced. In December, 1933, there were 26,892 units used for £5ll, and in December, 1934, there were 29,126 units used for £538, an increase of 8 per cent, in units but only 5 per cent, in revenue. From those figures it would be realised that consumers were using the power much more freely and it was evident that the load was gradually being built up. The deed whereby the board’s sinking fund payment was limited to £4OO annually instead of £l4OO as stipulated in the original deed, had come to hand so that the position was now definitely cleared up. The report was adopted, the chairman remarking that the clerk was handling the collection of arrears in a tactful and satisfactory manner, The engineer, Mr. D. Fraser, reported that the power sta.lon had run without fault during the month. The highest demand registere? 'as (30 k.w. Power was taken from New Plymouth On 31 days. The Diesel engine ran 150 hours with a fuel consumption of 1187 gallons. Owing to the continuous dry weather the flow of the Waiau was greatly depleted, with the result that it was necessary to make heavy demands upon the bulk supply. The rainfall recorded at the station was 1.58 in .( Routine work in connection wit? distribution had been carried out on the Warea, Parihaka, Ruakere, Ngariki, Te Namu, Opua .and Ihaia roads and at the Warea hall, Pihama factory and Opunake business premises. Coloured lights had been erected across the main streets f'- the Christmas and New Year period. The following new connections had been made, with those of the corresponding period Let year in parentheses:—Lighting points, 28 (11); heating 7 (2); field pumps, 3 (0); industrial motors, 1 (1); additions and alterations, 3 (10); re-inspectic.is, 29.—-Adopted. On behalf of the outside staff the engineer expressed appreciation of the board’s action in granting a Christmas bonus.