ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

Taranaki Daily News, 14 September 1940, Page 9

ELECTRICITY SUPPLY

OPUNAKE POWER BOARD MORE UNITS HANDLED Units generated and purchased by the Opunake Electric Power Board during August totalled 97,200 more than for the corresponding period of last year, it was reported at a meeting of the board yes- . terday. The number generated was 119.340, compared with 17,000 last year. The meters read during August covered the northern portion of the board s district from Rahotu to Puniho, and results, with the returns for 1939 and increases in parentheses were; Domestic £689 (£655, £34), commercial £64 (£56, £8), rural power £131 (£106, £25), mdustrial £73 (£50, £25), water heaters £200 (£140, £60), pumps £66 (£48, £18), totals £1223 (£1055, £168), less discounts £130 (£137. £7 decrease), nett totals £1093 (£918, £175), nett increase for August, 1940, £175, nett increase for five months April-August £948. The average monthiy increase was to daie £189, against which' increase the bulk supply costs were estimated to be £140. For" the first time during the current financial year the business transacted by the trading department showed a decline, the comparative figures being £360 for August, 1940, and £452 for August, 1939, a decrease of £92, said Mr. Cassels. The total increase in trading turnover for the five months from April to August was £320. An increase of £176 in the cash receipts from the sale of electricity and sundry saies and services was registered. Receipts for the five months, April-August, were £9583 compared with £81-17, an increase of £1466. The position of the various banking accounts at September 2 was: Power fund overdraft dr. £384 (£1939 overdraft dr. £968), loan account credit £392 (credit £155), capital moneys credit £11 (credit £12). Although the overdraft showed an improvement of £584 unpresented cheques when taken into account at both dat.es showed that the tru'e improvement was £628. The advent of the milking scason, and the increase in the maximum demand to over 800 kilowatts made heavy dernands on the system, and the engineer, Mr. E. G. Snell, referring to the generating plant. The installation of two 1500 k.w. auto transformers between New Plymouth and Okato during the month made a big improvement to the supply generally, the voltage being increased by aproximalely 1000 volts at Okato. With the prospect of being able to take an increased supply of power at Okato, it was confidently assumed that ample power would be available for all requests during the coming year. Units generated ' totalled 119,340, and 316,180 units were purchased. The total of 435.520 represented an increase of 97,200 units compared with the corresponding month of last year. The Diesel engine ran 161 hours, generating 1770 units at a fuel consumption of 159 gallons. The' board endorsed the view of Ihe executive of the Electric Power Boards and Supply Authorities' Association of New Zealand that local body elections should be held as usual, and the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. i Parry, is to be advised to that effect. The practice of posting copies of the minutes and reports of officers of the board to members prior to the meeting is to cease, the board agreeing that a saving in postage and paper would be effected. In the past it has been customary to supply members with copies of the minutes and reports by post in addition to copies provided on flies placed on the board table, the reports and minutes being adopted as posted. In future the minutes and reports will be read at the meetings, the amount of typing and paper required being reduced by half as a result of the decision of the board.