Power Board

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXII, Issue 248, 17 August 1928, Page 3

Power Board

SECRETARY’S REPORT To the monthly meeting of the Central Hawke’s Bay Electric Power Board, which met. in Waipukurau today, the Secretary (Mr G. E. Fowler), as follows: — COUNTRY AREA The value of enqrgy sold in the April-June quarter in the country area •was £2793 19/6 as against £2463 16/2 for the same quarter in 1927, which is an increase of 13.39 per cent. WAIPUKURAU BOROUGH The value of energy sold in the Waipukurau Borough for the two months ending 31st July was £lO6B compared ■with £953 for the same two months in the proceeding year, an increase of 12.60 per cent. The Public Works Department’s charge to us for energy for the quarter ending 30th June was £1264 14/-, as compared with £lOO9 11/2 for the same quarter in 1927, an increase of 25.27 per cent. The ratio of increased cost of energy purchased by the Board in comparison with the much less increased percentage of earned revenue by the Board is a matter that is causing much concern. ■We have paid the Public Works Department the amount claimed (without prejudice on our part) but we have asked for the testing of the meter at the sub-station as it is apparent that there is a discrepancy somewhere. Though the revenue earned in the two areas for the last readings shows an increase of approximately £370 as compared with the figures for the same period last year, it must be remembered that we have raised an aditional £BOOO in the year between, thus adding, on the basis of IS per cent, over all, £1440 per annum to our annual charges, capital and revenue. All the accounts in the Waipukurau Borough for the previous quarter were again all paid, whilst in the country area there were only two small accounts outstanding. INSTALLATION ACCOUNTS October will see a large number of the Installation Advance Acounts finalised. The consumers'have met their obligations in regard to advances splendidly indeed. I would like authority when the final accounts go out to place before consumers, the advantages of electric cooking, hot" water, etc., and the fact that the Board will be willing to make advances for installing the same. With the original installation paid off consumers will probably be much more inclined to consider extending further benefits to their families by putting in more electrical equipment. COLLECTIONS The collections made for the last country reading were as follows: — Meter Readers: (Dinnan) £l2l 15/8; (Houghton) £23 2/9. Board’s Agents: Otane, £192 3/-; Waipawa, £515 13/9; Onga Onga, £143 6/2; Takapau, £402 11/1. COMMUNITY LIGHTING There seems to be a lack of knowledge on the part of the business people as to the cost, etc., of community lighting. I would suggest that you authorise us to forward a letter to all business places in the area clearly pointing out the position in regaref to community lighting. FAULTS During July the number of faults attended to was 22, the distance travelled being 300 miles. The amount charged to consumers per faults totalled £1 16/-. Of the 22 faults 12. were street lights, entailing 84 miles travelling and one fault wa.s community' lighting.