Power Scheme Development

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 82, 12 August 1953, Page 4

Power Scheme Development

As was reported in our issue of July 29, the matter of the possible supply of electric power from the Town Board's scheme to Waiiakei was brought before the meeting of the board held on July 15. A letter was received from the General Manager of the Tourist Department, which administers the Hotel Wairakei, asking for an offer from the board in connection with such supply. The board, after discussion of the matter, decided to instruct its engineer to make an offer to the Department on lines which har beei? suggested in a report to the board made by him. In this issue we publish a letter received from a correspondent, dealing with the proposed supply of power to Wairakei, in which the writer seems to suggest that the supply of power to Wairakei is something th a o is to be deprecated. Such a view of the situation is clifficult to follow. The Town Board Chairman states, as reported in the note appended to the letter, that the | supply of power to Wairakei will (not affect the supply of power to consumers either in the town district, or elsewhere in the board's supply area. In other words, the reticulation J of the town or other areas will not jbe delayed by the extension of a jline to Wairakei Why the patient housewives of « Taupo should object to the sale of ■power to Wairakei, as our corre- | spondent seems to imply they might, j is not explained. The important ' point is that the sooner the Town Board can increase its sale of power the sooner will it be possible to reduce the rates charged, and there is no doubt that a reduction in rates is

of the greatest interest to every housewife and consumer, patient or impatient. The sale of power outside the town itself, but inside the supply area allotted to the board, will return a profit to the board, which is to say to the ratepayers, The larger the sale of power in these early days of the scheme the more sound will its finan-eial position become, and the quicker will consumers in the town itself receive the benefit of cheaper power. It is obvious, of course that the . actual supply of power to Wairakei eannot commence until the main generator is installed and working, but it is equally obvious that the best interests of the ratepayers and consumers of Taupo will be served by arranging to sell power as soon |as possible after that power is available. Once the main generator is producing power any delay in selling that power means an unnecessary limiting of the power scheme's revenue. In taking steps now to sell power to Wairakei as soon as it is 'available, is acting in the best inter- | ests of Taupo ratepayers and consumers. The area in which the Town Board is entitled to sell power is not a large one. It extends as far as Hamaria (Hallett's Bay) on the south and as far as Wairakei on the north, thus taking in the settlements of Hatepe, Waitahanui, Tauhera township, the area between there and the ■ Town District boundary, the Nukuhau ;area and the area along the Aeacia Bay road. Once the main generator is in action the quicker some of the surplus power can be sold the better for all concerned.