HYDRO ELECTRICITY

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19845, 20 May 1927, Page 5

HYDRO ELECTRICITY

THE LOCAL POWER SUPPLY WORK OF THE PAST YE AB. A review of the acticities of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board Board during the yast year, was made by the chairman (Mr F. Purnell) at the annual meeting of that body yesterday.

The chairman said, "I must congratulate members upon the very satisfactory results obtained during this, the third year of operation. Every department of the business has shown substantial growth and the financial re turns have exceeded the estimate submitted to you 12 months ago. "I have previously commented upon the fact that the inclusion of Wanganui in the reticulation has permitted these excellent financial results to be achieved and the largo number of consumers connected in the city render the low charges for electricity possible. Our charges for current for the various services are in nearly every instance lower than in any other Electric Power District and in view of the fait that no rate has been collected to supplement revenue, the results achieved by this Board strongly support the uniting of town and country districts for mutual benefit. "The service lines in the country districts have necessitated the expenditure of a sum exceeding £2500, which work would ordinarily have been paid for by consumers. The policy adopted by this Board to capitalise the cost of these lines, is a material concession to any country consumers not enjoyed in any other Electric Power District and although the effect is to increase the capital charges, the position of the revenue account indicates how sound the district is from a supply authority’s point of view. Construction of Lines. The construction work has not been so heavy as in the previous year and the capital expenditure amounts to £68,271 5s lid plus engineering fees, etc. £4aBs Os 6d, making a total of £72,456 6s sd. Of this sum £17,500 represent wages paid. The main extensions to main transmission lines have been to serve the following districts: Mangarnahu, 18 miles; Maxwelltown-Waitotara-WaveiTey, 28 miles; PukiorcMangaweka’ 14 miles.

"The cost of lines in the various centres was:—Wanganui City, £87,865 7s <Sd; Alarton Borough, £8263, 4s lid; I Hunter vide township, £1,646 7s lOd; (Bulls township, £1769 15s Lid; country mains and reticultion, £81,860 4s Id. It is somewhat dillicult to arrive at the actual cost per mile of each distribution serviep owing in some cases to the different voltage lines being carried on the same poles. Extensions from the main transmission line hava Goen made with gum poles and the lower capital cost lias enabled many isolated homeste'.’.ds to receive a -upply of electricity. It is recognised .tiaj for these lines greater depreciation must be provided, although from the appearance of the poles which have been in service for two years there is iivcry prospect of these lasting as ;.>ng as some of the Australian poles ik.ed elsewhere. Country Reticulation. ?I! country ruticvia'ion has been ; kvii on the basis of having suf j i nt ;-~venue guaranteed to cover the ■ 1 oust in live years. It is iiiterI iig l j note that with few exceptions Li.iu - from consumption of cur .. -.t in ll • various groups has been . !A -ent to cover the aggregate guarc nl. Where this occurs the balance ; individual guarantees is not called u;. unless to < ox er the cost of the ind viiiual service line. Owing to the cxtumive installation of electric ranges and hot water services in the country districts, it has been necessary to provide many additional transformers which considerably increase the cost of reticulation. The construction work to oe carried, out during the current year includes reticulation of the country areas adjacent to Waverley, and extension of the main transmission line from Mangaweka to a point about two miles beyond U’.iku. Two small gangs only will bo operating on construction of , lines and it is regretted that there will not be the same opportunity to employ labour during the, coming winter as has been the case during the past three years. With the exception of the present contract for poles from Australia, there has been no serious delay in delivery of material of any kind and the whole of the -work has been done by day labour in a very satisfactory manner. Finance. Receipts for the year ending March 31, the figures being to the nearest £l, are as follow: 1926. 1927. Consumers £32,851 £57,882 Street lighting .. .. 3.604 4,690 Community lighting . 740 j Bulk supply to P.W.D. 2,290 Tramways, "Wanganui 7,165 4,953 The cost of tramway current is further reduced by £765 Is 2d, being the amount received from consumers of direct current and refunded to the City Council. The average return per consumer is £ll 5s as compared with £9 3s 6d in j the previous year. | A maximum half hourly demand for j current of 2440 k.w. occurred on Alarch | 31 and the average return for the year on this demand shows the satisfactory sum of £2B 18s 4d per k.w