POWER BOARD'S YEAR.

Shannon News, 18 May 1928, Page 3

POWER BOARD'S YEAR.

REPORT OF ENGINEERING DE-

PARTMENT.

A comprehensive review of the year s work in the extension and development of the electrical service was presented to the Horowhenua Power Board by the engineer (Mr. J. A. Smith) on Tuesday. The report was as under: — New Construction.

During the year, new construction has be«n carried on steadily, and the following e.h.t. lines with the necessary l.t. lines have been completed:— Matai, Maupoko and Otaihanga Roads, Paraparaumu; Himatangi Eoad, Foxton, and Okuku Eoad, Makerua. Extensions to e.h.t. lines were* made to Whitaunui flaxmills, Tasman Bea»h Road and Rangiuru Beach Eoad, Otak:, and McDonald Eoad, Levin. Extensions to l.t. lines were made at Tasman Beach Eoa-d, McDonald Eoad, Kawiu Road, Bolton Road, Raumati Beach, Lupin Road, Otaki, Te Horo and Waikanae township, Rangatane, Keri Ken Road and in the Levin Borough. The l.t. lines in a number of localities have been strengthened on account of the extensive increase of load in these parts. New e.h.t. lines have been built to a distance of ss' miles, and new l.t. in conduction with these lines has absorDed, 19 miles, 19 chains of single wire. New l.t. lines have been built which have taken six miles 66 chains, and l.t. extended on existing poles has account ed for 16 miles 51 chains of wire. During the year 510 poles were erected, 287 new service lines run, and extra phases run'on 12 existing services. Eleven outdoor sub-stations have been built and 67 transformers have been re-conditioned. Maintenance. During'the year a general overhaul has been steadily carried out, the chief areas being dealt with being Paraparaumu Beach and Beach Road; Wa:kanae township, Beach and Beach Road; Te Horo district, and Hautere loop; Te Waka Road and a portion of Otaki Borough. In these areas the f 01-; lowing work has been done:—All l.t. lines were restrained Where possible, cross-arms ,and insulator pins tightened, shackles examined and changed where required, jumpers cleared and trinfmed, poles pulled back and reblocW, fuse boxes examined and contacts cleaned,' binders and joints examined, service lines re-strained, street lamp brackets cleaned and rer-painted. stay wires examined, and trees cut back, otc. During the year nine e.h.t. insulators have been changed, four having been damaged by rifle shots, stones or some other deliberate cause. The number of renewals is very small considering that there are 19,641 e.h.t. insulators in service. Summary of, Lin© construction. The following schedule gives a summary of line construction: — Route miles of 3-wire e.h.t. constructed during the year, 5 miles, 61 chains; total to March 31st, 1928, 149 miles, 59 chains. Route miles of three-wire e.h.t.—l4 miles 15 chains, and 210 miles 47 chains. Route miles of service lines.—Nine miles 53 chains, and 94 miles 71 chains. Number of service lines.—2B7, and 2893. | Number of street lamps.—9, and 332. Total wire in lines and service lines,! 1690 miles. ■' Number of e.h.t. insulators, 19,641. j Number of., l.t. insulators (not includ-! ing shackles), 36,140. Development of Electrical Load. The connected load on the system shows a considerable increase; 198 new consumers have been connected, bringing the total up to 2782; 269 extensions to existing installations have been connected. Fifty-six industrial motors, aggregating 378 h.p., and 50 milking and separating motors have been connected. Sixty-two ranges, making a total of 309, a ratio of 11.1 per cent, of the consumers, or one to every nine consumers; 87 water-heaters, making a total of 547, a ratio of 19.6 per cent, or one to every 5.1 consumers. The total .connected load, including street light, ing, amounts to 7617.4 k.w., an increase of 994.4 k.w. Summary of Load. Connected Total at during year. March 1928 Industrial motors .. 5Q 256, equals 2726.8 h.p. Milking and separator motors 50 382, equals 555 h.p. Ranges 63 309 Water-heaters 87 547 Consumers 198 2782 Lighting k.w 70.4 970.4 Street lighting k.w. 1 29 Total k.w. .... 995.4 7618 Total k.w 995.4 7618 The following figures show to what extent these added connections have affected the maximum demand from the Mangahao power station and the number of units sold:

Maximum demand during year ended March'* 31st, 1927, 1668 k.w.; actual k.v.a., 1922. Maximum demand during year ended March 31st, 1928, 1968 k.w.; actual k.v.a., 2332.49. Te units sold during the year were 5,906,235, an increase of 1,085,416, or 22£ per cent, from the previous year. This increase would have been much greater if there had not been.' a shortago of water. I am pleased to be able to report that no serious accident oeeurred during the year. I wish to take this opportunity to (thank the chairman and members of *he Board for the consideration they have always shown to the engineering staff and men working thereunder, and would also express my appreciation of the loyal and willing service rendered by the offieers and men directly under me.

A graph prepared by the engineers showed the units purchased, together with the maximum demand each month for the Uat two years.