POWER BOARD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 137, 11 June 1937, Page 9

POWER BOARD

MAY METER READINGS RECORD FOR MONTH “The meter readings for Ms; ‘ reached the record total for tha. . ’ period of £9487 11s sd, an advanc c l of £698 Ils 6d over the figures for ; past year and of more than £120.- • over those of the previous year,” re ported the secretary, Mr. G. A. Ar?.’mundsen, at yesterday’s meeting o. ' the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric- ! power Board. “These figures better (than anything else indicate the value ! of the all-in method of charging for | current introduced just two year; ago. The reductions operating from 'June 1 may cause a temporary settback in the rate of increase, though the growth in load, stimulated by j these further reductions, will very ! soon compensate for this. 1 “An additional 30 consumers were ‘connected in May, bringing the total [up to 10,898; members will recollect I that not so very long ago we regardjed 10,000 as an ambitious total at | which to aim, but there is little i doubt that before this year ends the 111,000 mark will have been passed.” Okoia Switchgear I The engineer (Mr. H. Webb) rei ported on ’the Okoia 11,000-vo’t 'switchgear as follows: ■ "The cost of to'al replacement of ’ this equipment at the present time ! would be excessive, more especially jas the Public Works Department ■ would not meet the board by making i the necessary alterations to their i own equipment to line up with the I board’s proposed new geaix For the ! board to bear the whole cost would ■ mean an expenditure of at least 1 £2500. Under these circumstances ; I would suggest the replacement of jthe current transformers only at the | present time as* they are the onlv ’serious source of trouble. This will ! make the equipment suitable for use for several years, but when the department installs additional generating plant and further main lines [supplying this area the fault current ’will then be in excess of that which . the present switches are capable of rupturing with safety. The cost of replacing current transformers would he £240.” The reports were received.