ELECTRICAL ENERGY

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 79, 8 June 1943, Page 7

ELECTRICAL ENERGY

BAY POWER BOARD

CHAIRMAN'S ANNUAL UHPOIiT

in his annua: report at the meeting' of the Jiav of Plenty Power Board last week, tlie ehainvwin, Mr W. T. Jillrrett. stated as 'under:' — The year's progress necessarily lias been subject to dilliculties inseparable i'roni the war in maintaining personnel at ell'e-tive .strength, ami procuring important items ol p.ant and equipment. Despite the foregoing dilliculties we have been able to maintain and operate suc;*ess| u:ly and may congratulate ourselves on the sound and satisfactory position iu which \\u Find the board's accounts. We shall have an opportunity of dis- • cussing the reports and estimates a little later on. In the meantime, theiel ore. I .shall make a few yemaiks oir the interesting items and on matters which have, or mav elfeet the policy of the board. As we are all aware, restrictions arc the order of the day, and. those ol power, anil the use of materials are especially vital to the board's operations and a deciding factor controlling luture development. The allocation of :s;> p er CC nt. increase in units purchased from the Government is a definite limit, but due to our present sound position and providing we maintain our existing load and revenue, .together with commensurate costs, should enable u s to face the futiu-c with confidence to overcome the many difficulties and pfoblems which will require to be solved during the. next lew years. As the reports indicate, the profit from the saie of electricity exceeds £8000, and. this has been achieved with a very small increase over last year,- and serves to confirm my preceding statement. The actual percentage increases for the year on units sold, revenue, and cost of power purchased, being 3.5, 2.52 and 2.53 respectively, with a corresponding increase in rates of working costs, to gross revenue of 2 per cent.

Tile Engineer-Manager assures me the board's plant and equipment is in good condition, and present stocks are very satisfactory.

Tile foregoing remarks raise questions to which you will have to give attention when deciding whether or not any restriction should be made in tariff rates, especially as, it is pleasing to note, our En-gineer-Manager has. been able to embody in his estimates, after careful consideration, a recommendation to abolish the aggravating penalty rate, ay h it'll at the same time will result in a substantial redue-

tion in the cost to consumers

The board should, 1 think adopt tliis suggestion as in view of existing conditions it would be better than interfering with the ■ tariff, which should be maintained as at present and until such time as more substantial reductions can be offered to consumers. As stated previously, the boaal at the close of the year is in a very favourable position, and we -must acknowledge the excellent Avork of Air Dicker and the administrative jtaff under him. There is no doubt \hat constantly changing conditions have entailed very clo e supervision. 1 wish to convey to Mr Dicker und. the .staff, the board's appreciation of their very gooil Avork. The board's Consulting Engineer.-; Messrs; Vickerman and Lancaster, continue to render faithful service, and their presence in Wellington has on occasions proved invaluable to the board. In conclusion, 1 have to thank the members of the board for their cooperation which lias contributed in no small measure to a very successful year's, operations.