INCREASED CONSUMPTION

Taranaki Daily News, 13 April 1935, Page 9

INCREASED CONSUMPTION

OPUNAKE POWER BOARD IMPROVEMENT IN THE FINANCES. BENEFITS FROM CHEAPER RATES. REVIEW AT THE ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the Opunake Electric Power Board was held yesterday, when officers’ reports comprehensively reviewed a successful year’s operations. - Those present were Messrs. G. Goodvein (chairman), W. C. Green, J. S. Tosland, jE. A. Collins, A. J. Brennan, T. P, Hughson junr. and R. B. Fleming. A review of the yeqr’s operations disclosed by the secretary and engineer in their reports, showed the board to be in a very good position, said the chairman’s annual report. During the floods the headworks had a severe buffeting, but although some damage was done to the walls on either side below the weir it would be repaired and considerably, strengthened as soon as the level of the water permitted. The work done in raising the height of the weir stood up to the floods very well, and the main, trouble encountered was the silting up of the intake and race each time. The power supply and generation branch had been kept up to the highest standard, and although the dry spell caused an almost continuous use of the Diesel and bulk supply, an uninterrupted supply was maintained. All the lines were kept in first-class repair, with the result that faults were less numerous each year. The financial operations of the board must be viewed with satisfaction by members as well as consumers. It was very pleasing to report a substantial reduction in the overdraft, and the paying of a considerable sum 'into the depreciation account. The position had been improved without any detriment whatever to the plant or to the service to consumers. Mr. Goodwin thanked members for co-operation in the affairs of the board. LOAN CONVERSION SUCCESS. The board’s loans scheme was completed by the secretary at the very small cost of £26 15s. The board would appreciate the thoroughness in which the loan conversion was carried out at the minimum of cost. ■“As this is the last meeting before the election of the county members of the board, I would like each member to seriously consider his re-election,” said Mr. Goodwin. “I know you all have many responsibilities outside the affairs of the board, but as there are further shoals and rapids to negotiate before all danger has passed I think it is your duty as citizens to offer yourselves for reelection. During, the difficult period through which we are passing, as you are conducting the board’s' affairs, in a satisfactory manner —and I think the figures prove that you 'are—l think ydtj should be one of the team, if wanted.” Members also expressed appreciation of the way in which the chairman had conducted the affairs of the board during the year. - Mr. D. Fraser, engineer, reported that installations connected during the 12 months ending March 31, 1935, and the figures for the previous year were: New consumers 59 (52) increased connected load in K.W. 159 (117), this including lighting points 359 (344), heating points 75 (75), stoves 5 (3), water heaters 6 (3), milking motors 8 (8), field pumps 11 (9), industrial motors 12 (14), alterations and additions 91 (53), reinspections 221 (223). Consumers connected at March 31, were 1684 and the total connected load 2551.5 K.W. . \.. ‘ TOTAL CONNECTIONS. . Milking motors connected at March 31 were 282, water heaters 163, stoves 91, field pumps 120, industrial motors 91. No high or low tension line extensions had been made during the past 12 months, and -58 service lines had 'been constructed and connected- to the existing lines, against 48 for the previous year. > * The secretary’s report, summarised the result of the year’s workings'as follows: Total receipts from all sources, £12,737; total .expenditure under all headings, £11,446; net profit, £1291. This position was practically as estimated when' a profit of £1302 was budgeted for, but whereas it was reckoned ■ to reduce the overdraft by £lOOO, this amount was £1166 for the year. This meant that the year’s working had come but practically Square. A comparative statement of revenue

Nett totals £11,367 £11,496 *£l29 ♦lncrease. tDecrease. From this it would be seen that the revenue was well up and showed an increase of £129 on last year’s revenue for the same period. The revenue for March, 1935, was £llB3, against £1126 last year. Mr. Sharp remarked that the most satisfactory asnect of the renort was that lighting and heating had shown an increase in spite of altered rates. The consumers had had the benefit of cheaper rates and had taken the opportunity to use more electricity.

was:-*-Inc or dec £ 1934. £ 1935 ■■■ £ Lighting and heating 6,222 “ 6,584 *362 Power 5,447 5,220 1227 Water heaters .... 647 622 125 Street lighting . •.. 140 140 —— Penalties (not since Sept., 1934) -146 40 1106 £12,602 £12,606 *£4 Rebates and discounts i 1,235 1,110 1125