POWER LINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 May 1939, Page 7

POWER LINES

MANY SECTIONS LOADED TO ‘CAPACITY OBSERVATIONS BY SECRETARYMANAGER. COST OF RECONSTRUCTION WORK. (“Times-Age” Special.) “Many sections of the main transmission lines and of the subsidiary distribution lines are being loaded up to their full capacity,” reported Mr George Brown, secretary-manager of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board at its annual meeting at Carterton today. In order to properly provide for the new load which was being connected upi an increasing amount of expenditure would be required each year to provide for heavier lines, additional transformers, voltage regulators and similar equipment,” said Mr Brown. In very many cases the extra revenue obtained in the meantime, from this additional load was not sufficient to cover the cost so incurred, though in most cases there was prospective load which would eventually make the reconstruction worth while. Mr Brown considered the board should limit the amount charged up to loan for this reconstruction work as much as possible and do as much as possible out of revenue, otherwise the accumulated effect over a number of years of the increasing capital charges might become embarrassing. Last year the amount spent on reconstruction work was in excess of £2500, and was not likely to be any less this year. The Wangaehu, Rangitumau and Miki Miki loans had been raised by the issue of debentures payable in 10 years, although the singing fund payable was based on a 26-year term. The board did not want to have to raise renewal loans in 10 years’ time, years, although the sinking fund paypayments be increased so that at the end of the 10 years’ period, a sufficient sum would have accumulated to pay off the loans in full. On the three loans combined, an additional payment of £l7l per annum would be required to accomplish this.

ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer, Mr H. B. Keenan, reported in detail on the operations of the past year. Three outstanding features were approximately 30 per cent more lines were erected this year as compared with 1937-38. The L.T. and service lines comprise 57 per cent of the total lines erected and E.H.P., 40 per cent. Of the L.T. erected, only 37 per cent were new extensions, while 63 per cent were lines erected on E.H.P. poles. Development was taking place rapidly, and it was necessary to make adjustments to suit conditions. Very briefly, immediate and future requirements which were receiving attenttion were as follow: —Additional accommodation tor servicing work and overhead lines department in Masterton; additional accommodation for overhead lines department, Carterton. Loop lines and ring main to serve Masterton area in conjunction with 3300 v reticulation inside the borough; control of water heating loads by resonant methods; voltage regulation and power factor correction in many parts of the district. This was linked up with load building and was receiving attention progressively, and enlargement of certain main and distribution sub-stations and reticulation. This was being carried out with the growth of load.