HYDRO POWER.

Shannon News, 25 August 1922, Page 3

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 area controlled by the Thames Valley Power Board, where, since the 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 3/6 a bag for wool, the following facts should be of more than passing interest. ,

“Take an ordinary five-roomed house,” said Mr Sprague. “We can supply the current, lor four 40--\vatt lights and one 60-watt light at 3/4 a month fiat rate, and for another 5/ a month a point can 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.” 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 yeah 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 consumer was charged the extra capital cost of connection, but he got his supply of current, at the uniform rate. In one case 60 chains of line was fyfit in to reach a customer. The Power Board had raised £550,000 by loan, and had not struck any rate.