POWER BOARD

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 241, 1 June 1932, Page 7

POWER BOARD

satisfactory year ANNUAL AND ORDINARY MONTHLY MEETINGS HELD CHAIRMAN RE-ELECTED The annual meeting of the Bay of Plenty Power Board was held on Monday, when the chairman, Mr. H. R. Hogg welcomed the two new members, Messrs Sumner and Maxwell. The Hon. J. B. Gow proposed that Mr. Hogg be re-appointed chairman. This was seconded by Mr. Peebles and carried unanimously. .Wlien the motion was put, Mr. Gow pointed out that Mr. Hogg had been chairman of the board frqm its inception. The board then proceeded with the business of the regular ordinary meeting. A letter was read from the Waitemata Power Board asking for support in its action urging the Government to remove the customs duty on all British Electric stoves in view of the fact that the all electric home is now almost a necessity in New Zealand. The board decided to support this. A letter from the WanganuiRangitikei Power Board was read asking for support in securing a delaratory judgment on the position of Crown tenants whose properties were subject to mortgage, After some discussion, Mr. Maxwell suggested that the B.O.P. Power board should supply electrical equipment on the hirepurchase system. Mr. Dicker (engineer) stated that this was already being done by the board. It was decided to support the Wanganui-Rangitikei Board. Reduction Wanted An account for £10 10/- was received from the returning officer at Whakatane for preliminary work in connection with the recent election. In view of the fact that no election was held the board considered this excessive and it was referred back with a request for reduction. A letter was received from the Waimana branch of the Farmers' Union requesting the board to make a service man's base at Taneatua with a view to reducing the cost of servicing. The engineer referred the board to his figures in his annnal report and it was decided that the present system was satisfactory. The board was also asked not to trim and cut back trees of shelter belts. A piece of bluegum bark was produced showing scorched marks where it had been burnt as a result of contact with the wires. It was pointed out that this piece of bark had thrown Opotiki into darkness for two hours during a recent storm. The board decided that no alteration could be made with reference to the trimming of trees where required. The engineer then read his report and thanked board members and the staff for their loyalty and help. Mr. Gow pointed out that the results owing to skilful handling of the current were very satisfactory indeed, even in these trying times.

Mr. Maxwell asked if shut-downs on Sunday could be arranged an hour earlier for the convenience of farmers, but the engineer pointed out that this could not be done owing to several butter factories being unable to close before 2 p.m. Mr. Gow after expressing appreciation for the splendid work done by Messrs Vickerman and Lancaster proposed that they be reinstated as consulting engineers. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Gow moved a vote of thanks to tho staff for their excellent work in the past year, and this was seconded by Mr. Peebles and carried. ANNUAL REPORT The engineer-manager submitted the following report. "In view of the economie conditions that have obtained during the past financial year, I have given considerable thought to the matter of possible alterations to the board's tariff. In the first place, I wish to poi'nt out that the past period is the first complete year, as far as revenue is concerned, since the board commenced operations; and it is not usual for reductions in the tariff to be. made until a supply undertaking has been operating for a longer period, and is therefore in a better position to judge the possible effects of such reduction. "In comparing the position in this area and elsewhere in the Dominion, the particular items to be taken into "consideration are: — "Concessions regarding cost of service lines, amounting to approximately £18,000. The capital charges on, this amount must be met from revenue. Of the whole units sold a relatively small proportion is at the high or lighting rate namely 146,311 units sold for lighting out of 7,550,660 total units sold, or less than 2 per cent. Details of System "Construction. — The total route miles of lines constructed to date over the whole of the board's area is as follows: — 215.6 miles of 11,000 volt lines; 27 miles of 400 volt lines; 68 miles of 400 volt lines on 11,000 volt lines; 320 distribution transformers of a total capacity of 3,860 K.V.A. Following is a summary of installation, eonnected load, and revenue as at March 31, 1932 showing comparisons with 1931: — Type of ° Revenue Installation. No. £ 1932 1932 Domestic .... 1129 14842 Commercial Lighting and Heating 210 1936 Street Lighting 3 454 Commercial Motors ... 59 473 Bulk Supply 5 2066 Pumps 166 947 Milking Plants 526 14229 Total 2098 34,947 "The total number of consumers as at March 31, 1932, was 1,338. The number of ranges installed is 493, representing 36.8 per cent. of the consumers. There are also 1,620 h.p. of motors and 974 water heaters. "The total expenditure per unit sold was l.ld (1.174d in 1931). The

gross revenue per unit was 1.144d (1.196d in 1931). Little Interruption "During the year the amount of interruptions to supply has been exceptionally low, and the majority of short duration. Several severe thunder storms caused a considerable amount of local interruption, both in Opotiki and Whakatane areas, and repairs were carried out as promptly as possible, with a minimum of inconvenience to consumers. "The board's troublemen have attended to 2 458 faults on consumers' installations, appliances, etc., and in connection with the board's reticulation. "The total costs of labour and transport for faults charged was as follows: — Opotiki area, including Waimana, £91 4s 4d per annum; Whakatane area, £194 2s 4d. "The cost *to" the board for free service to consumers for the year amounts to £1,225 13s ld, equivalent to 18/3 per eonsumer. Estimates For Year The engineer-manager submitted the following estimates for the year ending March 31 1933: —

In compiling these estimates no allowance was made for depreeiation and bad debts, nor was any saving taken into account which may occur due to interest reduction under the National Expenditure Adjustment Act 1932, as this figure is not yet ascertained. The estimated expenditure for further construction after allowing for existing stocks of materials on hand to complete four miles high tension, four miles low tension, and 40 services is £2,097. "This free service is a factor that should not be overlooked when comparing this board's tariff with others, and is equivaient with a reduction of approximately lEsd per unit on all lighting units at present charged at lOd per unit. "In conclusion I wish to thank the chairman and board members for the assistance and consideration extended to me, and to place on record the loyalty of the staff in assisting me to successfully carry out the work of the board."

This page is designed to give a comprehensive local news and business service to Opotiki and district. It will appear regularly every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and is open to all news from the district. It has been incorporated as a definite feature of the Rotorua "Morning Post," published every morning in Rotorua and serving a growing public in the Bay of Plenty area. The "Morning Post," in addition to local news from all parts of its distribution area, publishes a full overseas and Dominion telegraph service; it arrives in Opotiki each morning at approximately 10 o'clock, and may be obtained at the office of the paper's district representative, Mr. W. H. Taylor, King S.treet, or of Opotiki book-sellers.

Expenditure £ s. d. Int. & Sinking Fund 13,098 0 0 Purchase of Power ... 12,000 0 0 Administration and Management .... 2,206 5 0 Office Exs., Printing and Advertising ... 994 0 0 Meter Reading and Inspection 1,275 0 0 Servicing Faults, etc. 1,235 10 0 Maintenance Lines & Subs 2 235 0 0 Rates, Rents, Insurance, Board Members' Exes., Legal Exes. & Sundries 900 0 0 Building Mainten. ... 600 0 0 Balance 2,113 5 0 £36,657 0 0 Receipts £ s. d. Sale of Electricity ... 36,097 0 0 Sundry Sales 560 0 0 £36,657 0 0

POWER FUND