CENTRAL OTAGO POWER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24414, 27 September 1940, Page 2

CENTRAL OTAGO POWER

BOARD'S NEW SCHEME PURCHASE OF WYE CREEK STATION The monthly meeting of the . Central Otago Electric Power Board was held on Tuesday evening, Mr W. Bringans presiding. The chairman referred to the death of Mr S. T. Spain, one of the foundation njembers of the board, and one who had been closely associated with the progress of the district.—A motion of sympafhy was carried in the customary, manner, . . '' Th*> Vincent County Council wrote advising that it had decided to hold over the appointment of a successor to Mr Charles Weaver until after its next meeting. The Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association wrote asking the board for an expression of opinion as to the advisability of the postponement of the local body elections.—After, considerable discussion it was decided to support the holding of elections as usual. Wye Creek Scheme The electricity controller wrote advising that no objection would be raised to the purchase of the Wye Creek hydro-electric generating station and the erection of the necessary transmission and distribution lines to interconnect this station with the existing system. The board decided to take the preliminary steps to raise a loan on behalf of the Wakatipu district to provide for the purchase of the Wye Creek plant and the erection of the necessary lines to connect with the Roaring Meg scheme and to give settlers supply en route. Engineer's Report The engineer-manager, Mr A. E. Ellis, in his report stated that work in the upper Clutha area was nearing, completion, and a reduced staff was employed cleaning up the three remaining lines in this area. This work should be completed by the end of September. A temporary supply transformer had been erected at Alexandra to permit changing over later to one of larger capacity. This alteration had been delayed on account of consent being withheld by the War Emergency Committee to grant a licence for the necessary material. In some sections of the borough the growth of load had overloaded the supply cables, and there was no effective improvement possible without the larger cables now on order. It was further stated that the August output from the Meg station was 1680k.w., and the momentary peak 1600k.w. Stoppages occurred on two occasions for a-quarter of an hour, and on a third occasion the reclosing switch operated for eight periods of five seconds over a period of fifteen minutes. The engineer-manager further reported that the application to the Electricity Controller regarding the purchase and interconnecting of the Wye Creek plant had been successful, and he intends to forward a list of the materials necessary for the works to the various suppliers so that they would be able to tender quickly. ___^__