ELECTRIC POWER

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 89, 17 November 1939, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER

BAY OF PLENTY BOARD ENGINEER-MANAGER'S REPORT At the meeting of the Bay oi Plenty Electric Posver Board held at Opotiki last Tuesday, the EngineerManager, Mr J. D. Dicker, reported that the cost of power purchased for the quarter ending 30th September was £4699 5s which was an increase over the corresponding period of last year of £1824 His Bd. There had been 32.05 route chains of 400 volt lines erected and one transformer and structure dismantled and rebuilt at a new site. In addition 19 new service lines had been erected, and the length of these, in route chains of line, was 37.27. Lightning had caused dislocation of the supply on two occasions. On the 7th of October lightning interrupted the supply on the Paerata branch line for about fifty minutes and there was some interruption also in the Borough. The lines affected on the 12th were the East Boundary Branch Line, Paerata and Wainui Lines. The Rangitaiki feeder was out of order for 35 minutes on the 29th and the causes of interruption in this instance was birds. The Engineer further reported that trees had been cut and general over-

hauls carried out on various sections of reticulation. Five ranges had been connected, as well as two motors, seven houses, five pumps, five water heaters (dairy), seven water heaters (domestic), seven milking plant?, two separator motors and six total consumers. The total connected load was 9271 K.W. as compared Avith 8549 K.W. for the same period last year. Half-Yearly Report. In his half-yearly report the En-gineer-Manager said that, during the period, steady progress had been maintained, and although a tariff reduction was introduced earlier in the year, a slightly greater revenue increase had resulted as compared with the corresponding period of last year. Working costs have been increased 14.0 per cent but an analysis indicates that it is not a serious factor, and can naturally be expected when considered with the continually increasing area under the board's control.

The turnover in the Trading Department has increased by approximately £331 as compared Avith the corresponding half year for 1938.

Line Construction

SeA*en miles of 11.000 A'olt lines

had been erected and four miles of 400 A T olt lines had also been put up. These, in addition to eighteen transformers erected and tAA T elve dismantled, 117 consumers, serA T ice lines, protective relay equipment, and alterations carried out on a number of ser Aice lines and main reticulation, accounted for the Capital expenditure of £4302 lis 5d for the hajlf year. No serious interruptions have occurred in the board's district in the period under revieAA 7 and in the same time a pole to pole inspection has been completed on all 11,000 volt lines in the Opotiki area and normal maintenance Avork has been carried out OA'er the Avhole district.