ELECTRIC PUMPING.

Shannon News, 23 December 1927, Page 3

ELECTRIC PUMPING.

POWER BOARD FIXES SCALE OF CHARGES. Charges for power for motors used for pumping Avater from flood areas and for all drainage purposes were adopted by the Horowhenua Electric Power Board on Tuesday. A special committee set up to investigate the subject reported as folloAvs: — "Correspondence was read from various Power Boards, but it Avas found that the Thames Valley Electric Power Board was the only Board at present using motors of any considerable h.p. capacity for drainage pumping. In the Fraukton PoAver Board district a number of pumps are in use, but they are of a comparatively small capacity. After a lengthy, discussion it Avas resolved that the folloAving rates be recommended to the Board as those which shall be charged for electricity used for motors for pumping flood and drainage AA'ater: — "1. For pumps Avorking automatically on the rise and fall of the water, and unrestricted.hours:—lst 3000 units per quarter, 2d per unit; all units used per quarter over 3000 units, l|d per unit.

"2. For pumps governed by timesAvitches: From 1.30 p.m. to <> p.m., lid per unit; from 6 p.m. to 0 a.ni., id per unit.

■"There'shall be a minimum charge of 7s 6d per h.p. per quarter, plus a charge of 12$. per cent, on capital cost to the Board." The chairman stated that pumping of flood-water was different from any other load, and the current for it should be supplied at as cheap a rate as possible, so long as it was off the peak period; therefore the committee recommended a halfpenny rate from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The hours had been extended as far as possible without encroaching on-the peak load. He moved tho adoption of the report, with the reservation that the Board have the right to cut off the power between the hours % of 1.30 p.m. and 6 p.m. if it be necessary. ', Mr Vincent, a member of. the committee, seconded- the motion.

Mr Seifert\ stated that he. was on the eve of a trip to Waikato, and, having been in touch with some of the engineers, he would inspect the pumping systems in that district. There were 21 pumps in that territory, working with 2 h.p. motors, and the cost of installing them was very low. The motion was carried. ..