POWER DISTRIBUTION

Chronicle (Levin), 28 August 1946, Page 4

POWER DISTRIBUTION

Board's August Meeting The August' meeting of the Horo^Whenua Electric Power Board was held1 in Levin yesterday. Mr. G. A.. Monk was in the chair and those present were Messrs. C. S. Keed-r WelE F. W. Vickerman, R. R. Lind, , R. O. Hornblow, J. H. P. Liggins, W. •E. Barber, T. G. Vincent and Generai R. Young. Also Messrs. R. A. Frederikson (managing-secretarv) and J. F. Bryce (engineer) . Charges for Baking The question of electricity charges for electric baking during off peak-load hours was discussed. A request for a reduction in the charge from -£d to l-3d had been previously made by Mr. D. Debreceny, of Otaki. The chairman commented that the board's income had been somewhat curtailed by rationing. No charge could be reduced' without reviewing the question of charges as a whole, in fairness to consumers at present restricted. The committee had felt that at this stage it could make no reduction affecting the revenue. Mr. Vincent said that he hoped the time would come soon when ali charges would be reviewed. At present the board could not face up to the flnancial loss involved. The time would come when charges would have to be reduced for industrial concerns. Mr. Barber supported this view. The chairman said that the estimates were based on the exi'sting charges. Mr. Vickerman said that baking by electricity was an established thing. What the baker concerned was up.against was the lowering of the voltage, compelling him to switch on sooner, which affected his power costs. Baking by electricity would grow in the district, and the question of charges would have to be reviewed before the next estimates were made. After ■ further discussion, a motion was passed declhaing the request for a reduction. War Loan Appreciated Appreciation of a £1000 interestfree loan made to the Government during the war was expressed in a letter to the board from the Reserve Bank. The bank also made repayment of the loan at the same time. The letter stated that the Government sincerely appreciated the board's contribution to the war effort. Revenue Maintained The managing-secretary's and engineer's report were adopted. Mr. Monk, commenting on the managing-secretary's report, said that it showed the board was just holdinp; its own, financially. The restrictions were keeping pace with the additional connections; therefore, there was no appreciable increase in revenue.