POWER BOARD

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 17 November 1927, Page 7

POWER BOARD

CENTRAL HAWKE’S BAY GENERAL BUSINESS. The monthly meeting of the Central Hawke's Bay Power Board, held yesterday in Waipukurau, was attended by Messi’s. A. C. Russell (chairman), E. A. yoodger, Chas. Pattison, W. .11. Rathbone, F. J. Witherow, A. W. S. Longley, J. A. Kerr and W. Aialenoir. An apology was received for .the absence of Air. R. A. Fraser. Correspondence was received and dealt with as follows:— The Haw kb's Bay Power Board wrote stating that Airs. Groome, j. resident in the Northern area, could be more conveniently served with current by the Central H.B. Board. -The chairman said that the Board could nof act in the meantime, and suggested that the matter be held over for a month. He would be prepared to visit the area in company with the engineer mid meet the settlers. Tho chairman’s proposal was agreed to. The Executive Council, Wellington, forwarded intimation as to the rate of interest prescribed in regard to the loan of £lO,OOO. Also advising consent as to raising the amount.— Received. The secretary stated that this further loan instalment would bring the total raised to date to £123,000.

The Waipawa Hospital Board forwarded a grant of £2 2s for the use of the Board-room for a period of 16 months and thanking the Power Board for its consideration.— Received with thanks. G. E. Alerrikin, Hatuma. wrote ro extension of the service in respect of a supply of current.—After explanations by the chairman and engineer it was decided that the matter be left in the hands of the chairman and engineer to investigate, they to confer with Air Alerrikin and other settlers concerned. .

GENERAL MATTERS. Air. Rathbone, in conmmenting on the secretary’s report, referred to the average of over £5 10s deficiency in tlie current used per guarantee as one that called for special note, this being likelv to be recurring. It was early yet to complain as to the question disclosed, but greater satisfaction would result were the guaranteed supplies more fully utilised. The Finance Committee was empowered to deal with the tenders called of late for transport work and the extension ■ along Flemington road. The latter involves supply for four residences mid the distance of the line is 152 chains. In the course of discussion as to supply for a prospective consumer (Mr Walker) at Waipawa it was stated that the Borough Council had entered into the field as a competitor an,] offered to carry gas mains free of cost to the new household property involved. It was resolved that Mr. Rathbone and the engineer interview Air. Walker. SECRETARY’S REPORT. In his monthly report the secretary (Air. G. E. Fowler) said that since the last meeting of the board the yearly guarantee accounts hud been forwarded to consumers. Of 250 .major guarantee accounts, 102 guarantors used less than the guaranteed amount, the deficit being £567. An analysis of the Otawhao extensions flowed that £165 had been paid by the guarantors, or £8 less than the sum guaranteed. Almost every guarantee had been called upon in the past year. An examination of the other large new extension to Tikokino, showed the amount of guarantee called up in this area to be £lO2. The secretary said that he bad written to all those guarantors who had failed to use their full share of power and on the guarantee, and had urged them to fit more appliances, so that they would benefit to the full extent due to them. The revenue had come in very well for the past meter readings, although the Waipukurau accounts showed one consumer who had not met his accounts, thus snoiling tho record of a clean sheet for ten months. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Ah’. J. K. Lee), in his monthly report, said that the supply had been well maintained, one prearranged shut-down being the only interruption. In regards to the proposed extension to lour residences along the Flemington road, no action could be taken until Mr. J. C. Wilson had reached a decision as to whether or not he would accept the supply. Specifications and schedules had been drawn up, and tenders were closing at 4 p.m. on Saturday, November 26. The board had now reached that interesting stage when the day load approximated to the night load and two distinct peaks are observed. Since October 26 the day peak had exceeded the evening peak from 35 k.v.a. downward. The trouble was that they might have been caught on a mid-day peak at a low power factor. As the installation of motors and ranges was proceeding apace the position was not likely to improve, as it was such installations that tended to lower the power factor. It was essentia] that the voltage should be regulated and the |>ower factor corrected. This could be done by the installation of condensers and regulators which were now on the market.

Tho engineer then personally expressed a desire that a technical committee be appointed to go into the problem of the power factor, which was a serious one; and it was considerably easier to put the argument before a-committee than before the meeting. The whole matter was complicated and technical and certainly required considerable investigation. Some members of the hoard were opposed to the appointment of a technical committee, but it was eventually decided to appoint one, the chairman and Messrs. Goodger and Rathbone being elected. INSPECTOR’S REPORT. The inspector’s report showed that there were six new consumers in tire district, making a total of 1232, whilst there had been 12 new appliances installed.