ELECTRIC POWER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 August 1942, Page 5

ELECTRIC POWER

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD ABNORMAL LOAD FOLLOWING EARTHQUAKE. SECRETARY-MANAGER’S REPORT (“Times-Age” Special.) “As a result of the very large number of chimneys which were destroyed by the earthquake,” the secretarymanager, Mr G. Brown, reported at today’s meeting of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board, “we are experiencing quite abnormal increases in revenue and in cost of power. The radiator load is mainly responsible for these increases, and owing to the erratic and peaky nature of such a load, we shall be fortunate if the increase m revenue is sufficient to meet the increase in the cost of power. The new quarter over which cost of power is assessed commenced on July 1 and the highest peak so far recorded is 1430 k.w. in excess of the highest peak for the corresponding quarter of last year, and 1030 k.w. in excess of the estimate. The revenue this quarter will, accordingly, have to exceed the estimate by £2060 to compensate for this. The returns for July were very satisfactory and the indications are that we will catch up on the extra cost of power. With the advent of the warmer weather, the abnormal increase in revenue will, however, reduce, and we will more nearly approach normal conditions.” During July four new consumers were connected, making lhe total number of consumers 6339, as compared with 6234 twelve months ago. Referring to the monthly load statistics, the engineer, Mr H. B. Keenan, said the -figures for July showed what effect a destructive earthquake, followed by cold and boisterous weather, could have on the loads developed on an electric, supply system . The increase in units supplied was approximately three times greater than what it should be, while the increase in maximum demand was approximately four limes greater than normal. This had the disastrous effect of decreasing the load factor by approximately 9 per cent. From a supply point of view, the figures were not sound and they could not continue along those lines. The main thing was that with the quick restoration of services, the supply of electricity had been a definite benefit to lhe life of lhe people after lhe earthquake .