ADVANCE OF ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3877, 29 November 1928, Page 4

ADVANCE OF ELECTRICITY.

SERVICES RAPIDLY INCREASED LV DOMINION. ' Some interesting particulars regarding the supply and demand for electricity in New Zealand at March 31st, 1928, were furnished to the Horowhenua Power Board by its engineer (Mi’. J. A. Smith), last ,week. They were as under: —■ Including the Government plants, there are now 41 public electric supply stations in the Dominion; the total installed capacity is 146,360 k.w. an increase of 5.3 per cent, during the year; while the sum of the maximum loads has increased .by 11,163 Ik.w. or 10.41 per cent, to 117,445 k.w. The number of consumers supplied has increased from 228,345 to 243,795, an increase of 15,450, or 6.8 per cent, for the year. The total number of units sold was 457,313,863, an increase of 71,.617,532 over the previous year. Of the 99 electric supply authorities engaged in retail distribution of electrical energy, 83Pave an aggregate total of 15/766 electric ranges connected to their system, 6255 !(representing an increase of 60 per .cent.) being connected during the year. , The number of consumers using (water-heaters has increased from 51.5 per cent, connected during the year.

As regards electrically driven milking machines, the figures this year show a steady advance over those of previous years, viz.: 1925, 3581; 1926, 4856; 1927, 6738, 1928, 8514 j 7,204 being connected during five years. 'lf all electrically driven machines were driven by benzine engines, the consumption would represent about 190,000 eases of motor spirit for the year.