RISING PROSPERITY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 178, 18 October 1927, Page 13

RISING PROSPERITY

POWER BOARD IN BOOM HALF-YEARLY FIGURES TN every department except tracA tion the half-yearly figures of the Auckland Power Board show a steady increase. Moving the adoption of the report of the general manager, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, chairman, commented on the satisfactory improvement especially in the domestic supply, which had increased in value by about £24,000. “The rate of charges must be very satisfactory,” he said, “judging by the way people are taking them up.” Some of the general figures for the half-year show in comparison with the same period for 1926. the bracketed figures:—Units generated, 42,251,650 (32,474.866); units purchased, 8,786,640 (7,618,820); units sold, 42,298,755 (32,936,287); number of consumers connected, 3,158 (3,981); total number of consumers, 41,656 (35,439). The units generated show an increase of 23,2 per cent., and the units purchased an increase of 12.8 per cent. The traction account for the year has been rendered at 1.2 d as against 1.25 d last year. This, together with the fact that the board is selling a very largely increased number of units for domestic supply, including waterheating, has resulted in a further drop in the average net revenue per unit sold. It is satisfactory, said the report, that the board is able to bring this position about and still maintain substantial increases in revenue. The estimate for the year ending March 31 next was £575,000, of which £309,655 has been already received. On the past rate of increase in the board's revenue no difficulty was anticipated in getting the balance. The figures for the sales of current show: Units. Value. Lighting .. .. 4,162,838 £56,102 17 7 Street lighting 1,041,755 £23,547 0 10 Power 12,128,436 £72,119 2 8 Traction .. .. 1f>,115,970 £50.579 16 9 Don. supply . 14,549,756 £57,692 1 9 Meter rents, etc £2,335 15 9 42,298.755 £322,676 15 4 One unsatisfactory position revealed in the report was that the demand was pressing on the. supply, said Mr. T. Bloodworrh. Both the board's and the Public Works’ production of power was at a limit. I j