THE CITY'S LIGHT.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 570, 27 July 1909, Page 5

THE CITY'S LIGHT.

WORKING OF ELECTRICAL DEPARTMENT

v NET SURPLUS 0F'£4272.

ANNUAL REPORT. • Tho annual'report of the City Electrical' Engineer, Mr. Stuart Richardson, on tho city's electric lighting undertaking for the \ year ended March 31 last, shows a gross sur- i plus on the year's working of £19,302 95., and a net surplus of £4272 6s. 6di after providing for depreciation. Extension to tho Plant, Etc. I" During tho year tho tender of Mcssrn. C. ■ A. Parsons and Co., of Nowcastle^on-Tync,, for tho supply of a 1500 kw. turbino generating set, was accepted. Part of this plalit' . has already conic to hand, and will bo erected. in tho new part of the station. The workingV of this set, which will probably bo avail-1 able in about threo month's time, will add ! materially to tho efficiency of the station. The now station is designed according to modern practice, and tho aim of the Department will bo to rearrango the plant where' practicable, so as to increase .tho efficiency" of tho working. Several new additions to the station buildings were completed in tho j latter part of .the year, and will accommo- ; date- the machinery required for extensions I for several years. In the design of the build- | ing, special attention has been paid to tho •■ veil-being of the station staff who will work" j therein, tho roof being lofty, and tho build- | ing well ventilated and well lighted. I 1 I " N Revenue. ! - The gross rovenuo during tho year amoun- < ted to £44,321 Bs. 2d., made up n& follows:— : I ' . £ b. d. ' i Private lighting _ .- 37,836 2 8 ' Public lighting ... ~ 1,148 68 l Power supply 5,117 7i 9 Miscellaneous receipts ... 219 11 1 • Tlio total/ working expenses, including re-* nowals to plant for the year, amounted to £25,018 19s. 2d. Tho gross surplus oil the' year's operations amounted to £19,302 9s. After providing for interest on debentures, 2 per cent. Sinking Fuud in repayment of debentures, and sotting aside a sum of £5466 11s. Ud. as depreciation, there is a net eur- \ plus of £1272 6s. 6d. ' ] , Station Output. , : Tho total number of units generated amounted to 2,571,633. Private lighting installations nbsorbed 1,404,389 units, and power consumers took 409,391 units. In addition to this, 130,524 unite wero Supplied for street lighting, and 60,229 units used in ' the works. The plant in tho station- was maintained in a good stato of efficiency, and worked satisfactorily during tho year. The' cost of generation per unit and tho up-keep of the plant was considerably in excess of, tho tramways' power-station, duo to tho di- 1 versity in type of tho machinery installed, and to tho arrangement of tho plant. Overhead Lines. Tlio overhead distributing mains of the eystem havo been maintained in a satisfactory condition during tho year. In addition to, ordinary repairs, considerable renewals ' to tlio mams have been effected, tho cost I being included in the working expenses. ■ Very few interruptions in tho supply of cur- | rent occurred cousidcring tho large urea j served, and tlicso only of a minor character j affecting small portions of this area. If it / wore not for-tho damage done occasionally' by sbormy weather to tho ovcihead lines, j there would bo very little probability of any interruption, to the servicd | 1 Street Lighting. , The wholo' of tho incandescent street J lighting has been carried out by this department, tho cost of maintenance and cur-'_ rout supplied being charged to tho district j fund account. A considerable number 'of metallic filament lamps of a larger candle-> powor havo been erected in plaeo of tho old carbon filament lamps, _ and have improved the lighting very considerably, in 'addition , to saving current. This process will bo continued until tho,wholo of tho streets "are lighted with tho now lamps. Various ex-, tensions, to the streot lighting have been i made where approved, by the Lighting Com- j mitlee, .and extensions will bo made (Jns year | in parts of tho old. Melroso borough, replacing the present streot gas lighting. i ■Motalllo Filament Lamps. . 'Tlio metallic' filament lamps have eomo into extensive use, and are proving popular with tho public. The cost to ttio consumer on a candlc-pow'or- basis is decreased by about 70 per cont., as compairod wifhtfao carbon h'lament lamps, and tlio colour of the. light is much improved. The high prico or theso lamps has no doubt .hitherto do-; barred .many consumers from installing/ them generally throughout thoii 1 premises,/ and the full benefit of their use will not bo, attained until the cost of tho lamp is well within the reach 1 of each consumer. This time is rapidly approaching, as there wo in-, dications even now that tie now tamps will I shortly bo procurable at about half thejr , present cost. The revolution in dectrie lighting effected by tho metallic filament , lamps is already having a considerable effect in decreasing tho gross rovenuo or tho> department, "but," adds tjlio engineer, "I. beliovo tlio electric light will bo so greatly popularised that tho corresponding increase in business \yill enable tho city to continue the undertaking on a Bound financial basis.' ( In conclusion, Mr. Richardson acknowledged his appreciation of'tho good service* rendered by tlio oißcere and members of the , staff. Returns for Juno, A return,of,- electric light revenue and expoiiditiirc for tho month of Juno prepared ' by the City Elcctricnl Engineer states that the total revenue amounted to £5161,' an incieaso of £320 as compared with tho corresponding period of last year. The working oxpenses amounted to £2234. or £7 less , s than for the coi responding uionui last year. Tho net surplus for the month amounted to £1407, ns compared with £1346 for June lafit year Tho total re\cnue for tho throo months ended Juno 30 amounted to £13.760, or £712 more than last year. Tho working expense,? fon tho sumo poriod amounted w £GSB4, an Inciease of £594 as compared With last year. After, providing for estimated standing charges on the three months working, the net surplus is £2497, aa compared with £3001 last year.