HYDRO POWER.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 2471, 24 August 1922, Page 2

HYDRO POWER.

ITS WONDERFUL ADVANTAGES. SOME' FACTS ' FROM THAMES. Provided that, hydro electrical power can be generated at a cheap rate —and £lO per horse-power comes in the cheap rate category — there are wonderful advantages to be gained by districts who are in, the fortunate position of being able to link up with it. Such is the position of' the big tfrea controlled by the Thames Valley Power Board, where, since introduction of cheap power, there has been a wonderful wave of progress. On Thursday the engineer and manager of the Thames Valley Power Board, Mr R. Sprague, was in Wanganui, and in conversation with a Chronicle representative he gave some interesting particulars of his district. For the benefit of people in Wanganui who are paying 7/6 a /bag for coal and 3/G a bag for wood, the following facts should be of more than passing interest. “Take an ordinary five-roomed house,” said Mr Sprague. “We can supply the current for four 40watfct light one 60-watt light at 3/4 a month flat rate, and for another 5/- a month a point be used for an iron, a griller or a toaster. Power for electrical ovens with three heat points is supplied at a flat rate of 4/- a week. And it is available for the full 24 hours a day if required.” v Mr Sprague went on to say that cheap hydro power had revolutionised the Thames Valley district, and was so popular that they could not connect the people quickly enough. Their Power Board was formed in' 1920, and they had already carried out 450 miles of reticulation. Nearly 180 milking machines had been connected up, and they had another 100 ready to be connected. Their estimated revenue was in the vicinity of £30,000 a year. To encourage a load they connected customers on- a deferred payment system, the terms being a third down and the balance''at 18 months. In the case of long connections — people situated in out of the way spots —the consumer was charged the extra capital cost of connection, but be got his supply of current at the uniform rate. In one case 60 chains of line was put in to reach , customer. The Power Board had raised £550,000 by loan, and had not struck any rate.