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APPENDIX D

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER

The Chief Electrical Engineer to the Hon. the Minister op Works Sir, — In conformity with the provisions of section 15 of the State Supply of Energy Act, 1917, T have to report on the development of electric power in the Dominion for the year ended 31st March, 1945, as follows :— In spite of the limitations imposed by the scarcity of man-power and materials, some progress was made with further construction, and the capital outlay on the development of electric supply at the close of the year 1944-45 was £26,277,759, an increase of £2,667,408. The restrictions upon the use of electricity in the North Island, to which I referred in my report last year, are still in force, but nevertheless the consumption of electrical energy exceeded the allocations of power given to the electric supply authorities. Fortunately there were no serious difficulties in meeting the demand, mainly due to the exceptionally good hydraulic conditions at Waikaremoana. For the coming year, however, there is little doubt that the electric-supply position in the North Island will become more difficult. By June we should have a further 20,000 kW. generating-unit operating at Arapuni, but unless water-supplies at the hydro stations are as good as they were last year, the loss in power output from the Waikaremoana stations will be no more than overtaken by the added output from Arapuni. The metering of electric hot-water services, which is one of the means whereby waste of electrical energy can be obviated, has been pushed ahead by the electric supply authorities as fast as man-power and materials allowed, and by the end of March some 75 per cent, of the total number installed in the North Island had been metered. As a further means of conserving power the Government and the electric supply authorities jointly subsidize consumers' costs in having thermostats fitted to waterheaters which were installed before July, 1943, when the Electric Water-heating Order was gazetted. North Island Electric-power System 1. Capital Outlay.—Total expenditure to 31st March, 1945, was £16,859,146, of which £3,266,982 was not yet in operation. Details will appear in parliamentary paper 8.-l [Pt. IV] when audited. 2. Financial Results.— As was the case last financial year, the effect of the various restrictions is now apparent in the revenue returns. Owing to shortage of staff due to the war, the final results of operation are not yet available. 3. System Operation.—Owing to the excellent hydraulic conditions there was no marked shortage of power and generally little trouble was experienced. At King's Wharf Station 34,576 tons of coal were consumed, and at the end of the year 7,957 tons remained in stock. The maximum half-hour load on the system was 292,900 kW. (last year, 272,200 kW.), and occurred between 1730 and 1800 hours on Tuesday, 4th July, 1944, an increase of 7-6 per cent, on last year. The highest Saturday load was 258,200 kW. (235,500 kW. last year), between 1730 and 1800 hours on Saturday, 10th June, 1944. The frequency was low over this peak, however, and the assessed peak for the period is 266,000 kW. The highest Sunday load was 233,900 kW. (last year, 224,000 kW.), between 1130 and 1200 hours on Sunday, 23rd July, 1944. The greatest weekly generation was 32,534,000 units (last year 30,810,000), for the week ended 27th. August, 1944, an increase of 5-3 per cent. The maximum daily output was 4,946,000 units (last year, 4,681,000), on Tuesday, 22nd August, 1944 ; the greatest Saturday, 4,400,000 units (last year, 4,289,000), on Saturday, Bth July ; and the greatest Sunday, 3,946,000 units (last year, 3,801,000), on Sunday, 6th August. The total system generation for the year was 1,532,000,000 units. 4. Construction. —Power-stations : Arapuni: The work of erecting No. 6 turbine and generator was continued, and it is expected that this unit will be in service in the 1945 winter. Karapi.ro : Steady progress was maintained with the excavation and concreting of dam and power-house, erection of penstocks and outdoor station. Some of the plant for permanent installation has arrived, but delivery dates have been again put back on account of war priorities taking precedence with the British manufacturers. The erection of new houses was completed. Maraetai: Tenders for the generating plant and major equipment for this station have now been accepted, the contracts being awarded to British, American, and Canadian manufacturers. Waikaremoana (Upper) : Some of the equipment for permanent installation has arrived. Substations : A new substation at Te Puke to give supply to the Tauranga Power Board's southern area of supply was completed, whilst a commencement was made on the erection of a new station at Aongatete. The transformer capacity was increased at Bunnythorpe, Gisborne, Tahekeroa, Maungatapere, Kaitaia, Belmont, Hamilton, Huntly, Matamata, Wairoa, and Ngongotaha to keep pace with the growing demand. New cottages were erected at Takapuna, Edgecumbe, Hamilton (4), Ngongotaha, and Waihou. Contracts were placed with British, American, Canadian, and New Zealand manufacturers for the major equipment required at the proposed 220 kV. substations at Otahuhu and Bunnythorpe. These stations are planned to interconnect the future generating-stations on the Waikato River with the present system. The Central Park Station was almost completed, and supply to the Wellington City Council will probably commence in May, 1945.

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