BAY POWER BOARD

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 163, 22 May 1940, Page 5

BAY POWER BOARD

MONTHLY MEETING REDUCTION IN POWER COSTS WANTED The lollowing members were present at the monthly meeting' of the Bay of Plenty Power Board: Messrs V/. T. Burrett, D. Spence, F. Burl/, S. Maxwell, J. W. Sumner. Messrs J. .D Dicker, engineer-manager and Mr G. A. Hathaway, secretary, were also in attendance. An apology for absence was received from Mr Mitchell. The minutes of flic previous' meeting were confirmed and accounts passed for payment. The Opotfki Branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union, wrote asking for a reduction in power charges to county consumers to give some relief to the farmers. It was I pointed out that a reduction would j encourage more production. On the suggestion of Mr Dicker the letter was held ovciH until the annual meeting, when full details of the board's activities would be available. The engineer-manager's report was approved. In reply to a question, Mr ;Dicker said the cost of the suggested extension up the Rotorua road would be approximately £400. The mated revenue would be £80 annually. The Department was not keen about the extension and there would be no guarantee. This matter was left in the hands of the engineer. Mr Dicker stated that the guarantee for the Wainui extension was satisfactory but it would be necessary to get the approval of the controller. The board decided to hold the annual meeting on Monday, May 27. Mr Dicker stated that the Commission had agreed to the Whakatane Borough Council taking over the supply to the Whakatane Heads. Engineer-Manager's Report. The following report was submitted. by the engineer-manager, Mr J". D. Dicker, for the month of April:— Line Erection: Twelve route chains 400 volt on 11,000 volt lines. 24.7 route chains 400 volt lines. Investigations have been carried out on sev eral proposed new extension and line surveys completed. Consumers' Service Lines: 23 new service lines completed totalling 51.26 route chains of lines. Also two lines of 2.5" route chains removed. Line Maintenance: For the month the number of interruptions to supply occurred on several sections of the board's system, the majority being due to lightning and the necessity of effecting repairs to equipment. During the month a considerable amount of line maintenance and tree cutting lias been completed j Two 11,000 volt fuse switches completely replaced'. One 11,000 volt fuse switch insulator replaced. Repairs and renewals on portions of three transformer structures. Twenty-six consumers' service lines overhauled and repaired'. Four 26ft hardwood poles replaced.