POWER SUPPLY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 April 1943, Page 5

POWER SUPPLY

MEETING OF WAIRARAPA BOARD INCREASE IN REVENUE. GREATER USE OF KOURARAU PLANT. (“Times-Age” Special.) At today’s meeting in Carterton oi the Wairarapa Electric Power Board, the Secretary-Manager, Mr G. Brown, reported that the revenue for the financial year from April, 1942, to March 31, 1943, amounted to £75,574. That figure represented a gain of £4,418 on the previous financial year, and a gain of £2,458 on the estimate. For the year the cost of power from the Public Works Department increased by £6,278. An increase of 30,347 in the number of units sold was reported. The number of consumers was now 6,370, against 6,332 last year. Mr T. Voyce had severed his connection with the board after 20 years ’splendid service. Reporting on the engineering activities, the chief engineer, Mr H. B. Keenan, said that the board had assisted the Government supply by increasing the output from the Kourarau sub-station. In March, 1941, 187,450 units were generated, while in March, 1943, 252,460 units, or an increase of 34 per cent, were generated. Mr Keenan said that the Government allocation of maximum demand had been exceeded. The position was due to the extra heating and cooking load connected after the earthquakes in June, 1942. Taking into account the service rendered by the board in giving necessary facilities in time of disaster ,the attitude of the Electricity Controller indicated sympathy and appreciation rather than reprimand.