LAKE COLERIDGE PLANT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 15, 12 October 1917, Page 3

LAKE COLERIDGE PLANT

SUCCESSFUL GOVERNMENT VENTURE. "The Lake Coleridge electrical power undertaking has now completed its second year of operation," says the Minister of Public "Works in his annual statement. "The maximum load reached 6:!50 horse power, which is in excess' of the rated capacity of the threo power units then installed at Lakt Coleridge. Since the completion of the financial year, however, the fourth unit has been put in service, mukim: a total installed capacity of 8000 horso power. An additional unit of machinery is on order havins a capacity of 1000 horse power, and also material for a pipeline. The manufac-ture-of the turbine and the generator is well advanced, but there is very littlo prospect of getting delivery of the plates for tho pipe-line, and efforts to obtain a permit for the manufacture from the Homo authorities have been unavailing. "Tho financial results of the year's operations may be considered satisfactory, and a balance of ,£7865 was carried to the net revenue account. The prospects for the 'present year «ro promising, and there is every indication at present that the undertaking will earn sufficient to meet interest charges and depreciation as well-as working expenses. "The total energy issued from the power house during the year amounted to 14,774,960 kilowatt hours, to obtain which 20,000 tons of coal would be required if generated in the most economical way by means of a steam-power plant of the size of the Lake Coleridge plant. The saving in coal is, however, much greater than this, as small power plante are much less economical, and the saving may certainly he put at 30,000 tons per annum, and probably 35,000 tons. In addition to this saving the power user obtains his power for one-third to onehalf the previous cost, so that the saving to the community is considerable."