ELECTRIC POWER

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 200, 19 August 1933, Page 2

ELECTRIC POWER

In Central Hawke’s Bay SPECIALLY VALUABLE DATA STATISTICAL RETURN The Engineer (Mr. J. K. Lee) submitted the following introduction to a lengthy tabulated return: — As resolved at the meeting of the Board on the 14th July, 1933, I have the honour to present the statistical return of units used, as initiated by me in 1927, but in suspense during the past three years. The return is a very voluminous document, and has taken in all, about 367 hours to compile, and follows on the last return taken out in November and December, 1930. It shows that the ratio between power receipts and expenditure is still decreasing and that the increase in the supply of low priced units is increasing. The comparisons have been made much more fully than in the former return, as before, the revenue figures do not take in penalties or guarantees, but include minimum charges. I have shown the cost of yearly maximum demand as quarterly cumulative, not an average of the highest yearly maximum divided into the total 3)ower costs. An estimate of the saving that would be made by power factor correction can be gauged by the difference between the figures given for K.W. and K.V.A. demand, multiplied by the number of kilowatts. Right throughout the schedules, a minus sign has been used -to indicate a decrease.

A detailed analysis in the way of on the various quarters would be tedious, but a summary of the position through the period is necessary.

Our maximum demand on the Public Works Department was in the quarter, July-September, 1931, a total of 842.4 kilowatts, at .914 power factor, equalling 921.6 kilovolt amperes, but the demand has

now fallen again to a little in excess of the 1930 level, and with the fall in demand the units purchased have dropped also, in about the same ratio. The power costs of demand have varied very little per kilowatt or kilovoltampere, and the power costs per unit have varied slightly. As pointed out in my previous report on this subject, the average revenue per unit sold has, due to the increased sale of the lower price units, decreased from 1.59 d per unit in April-June, 1930, to 1.26 d per unit' in January-March quarter 1933, a drop of 20.7 6 per cent. The low price of water heating, and the sale of large blocks of current to the two boroughs within our boundaries, are large factors in keeping unit revenue below unit cost. The ratio of units purchased and units sold has varied very slightly, but the ratio of power costs to revenue is an increasing quantity, also the revenue per Kilovoltampere is decreasing, and the units for the same measure are increasing. We are selling more units for less money. Briefly Discussed Congratulatory reference as to the comprehensively complete return provided, was made by the chairman and Mi’ Witherow, and Messrs. Holms and Fraser paid a specially warm tribute as to the value of the data thus made available to members. In reply to a hope expressed by the chairman, whose point of view had been shared by Mr Witherow, that such a voluminous return would not be asked for in the future in view of lhe wcrx involved, Mr Holms said he had no apology to offer for his earlier or recent move in this connection —he only regretted that the obvious value of the information made available was not more fully realised, and the facts produced, as well as drawn upon, regularly. Mr. Fraser expressed concurrence with this viewpoint, pointing to the unfavourable trend in the revenue from certain services, lighting being an exception. He quoted from the return to show that watet -heating absorbed the greater part of the board’s load, yet did not

■ bring in enough revenue to pay even the cost of this supply of power from the Public Works Department. It was pointed out that if prepared more frequently the return would take much less time than even the proportionate period involved. Engineer’s Monthly Report Since the last meeting of the Board, the Otawhao section of the copper clad steel wire has been replaced and is complete to about half a mile beyond the cheese factory turn-off. The sub-station and all the work necessary at the Hatuma Lime Works has been completed. The total cost of this job including the transformer is £307 0s lOd, and I would like instructions from the Board as to how the guarantee is to be assessed, as I have to submit the various prices for periods from one to five years. The 11,000 volt circuit breaker to replace the K.P.F. air break switch on the Porangahau Road has been erected and put into service. A number of services in Otawhao and Waipawa that w’ere slack and bound with marline have been restrung. In conection with lightning arrestors causing radio interference, I have to advise that I have tested the whole of the arrestors, and that twenty two out of 50 proved faulty. Eleven have been removed from the line, and eleven still remain to be removed. From the state of some of these that have been opened up, it is quite possible that more may develop trouble in the near future, and I would suggest that 25 of the General Electric Pellet type Oxide Film arrestors be indented immediately, so that they can be installed before the next thunderstorm season. No stock of these are available in New Zealand, ex Australia they are £6 5s each, but on indent the price should be in the ( region of £4 10s each.