REVENUE FROM POWER

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19895, 26 May 1936, Page 11

REVENUE FROM POWER

THAMES VALLEY BOARD. SUCCESSFUL VEAR REVIEWED. EXTENSION OF RETICUI.ATION. (Special to Times). TE AROHA. Tuesday. “As in the previous year the position disclosed is most satisfactory, the year ending with a profit or “723-.“ said the chairman. .\lr .l. Price. in reviewing the year‘s operations at the sixteenth annual meeting of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board to-day. Mr Price added that the board had already arranged to make further reductions in charges. It was interesting to note that since 1930 reductions amounting to £24.00! had been given in the various years attect—ed. Based on present day consumption the reductions had a very much higher value, but it must be recognised also that lower charges had had their effect in increasing the consumption. The board's policy of supplying electric ranges at very low cost had been a great factor in increasing the connected load. and. incidentally, the unit consumption under the heading of domestic supply. It would appear that this policy could- be still further extended. to the ultimate advantage of the whole of the board's consumers. During the year the ratepayers save their consent to the raising of a new loan of £75,000. for the purpose or making further exten‘sions to the board's system. The load connected to the board‘s supply during the year amounted to 3N7 kilowatts. the largest increase in any year since 1923. In spite of this the number of units sold_increased by only 677.477. This was due to a decrease in industrial motor consumption of 1.021.233 units. In every other department an increase in consumption was shown. contended Mr Price. The effect of instruction in the economical running of milking plants was very apparent this year. Although the number of milking plant motors increased during the year by 176. and the number of other (arm motors by 276. a total increment of £SO motors. the increase in the number of units used for milking and farm motors was only 88,293. _ Damage by Storms. During the past year the board‘s area was subjected to three severe storms. and considerable inconvenience was caused. as well as a certain amount or damage. Trees had proved the greatest menace. and steps were being taken to reduce this hazard. lt was hoped that legislation would be introduced shortly to give greater control over the growing of trees, and .L'reater protection to human and animal llfc. and to power and communication lines. Continuing. Mr Price said the line construction for the year was much heavier than for the preceding years. consisting of numerous extensions. The board‘s consumers totalled 9812. compared with 9589 last year. and 7775 live years ago, while approximately 41,677 poles were in use at March 31. 1936. Of this number 25.988 were board's poles and 15,689 consumers‘ poles. The total number of poles replaced to March 31. 1936. on account. of rot was 1426 rboard‘s poles and £BO consumers' poles, a total of 1606 poles or about 3.9 per cent ot‘ the total which had been -erected. At March 31. 1936 the main connec—tions with the increase over last year in parentheses. were as follows: Eicotric ranges. too? (193); waterhenters. 2857 (233 i: farm motors. “52 (3.50); milking motors. 2028 (176); 1131 lighting and healing' consumers were conncctcd and 636 con—sumers had additions to their existlng llzhting and heating: installations. Referring to the board's loan liabilitics Mr Price said tho amount of loans sanctioned io-dav by the ratepayers was M 25000. which included the amount of 273.000 sanctioned on April it. lDlil‘v. (If this total £850.00!) had been borrowed and cvpcndcd. Dealing with tho London loan of £350. 000 hr said that. after months or carcful consideration the board rcaolvcd to pay otT tho London bondholdcrs and raise the required amount in New Zealand. Notice to this cchct was given in the London Gazcitc of February 2t. the date of repayment brim: Septcmber t. 1931'». This should et—tcct a considerable annual saving. in repavimr the London bondholders it would be necessary to find £85.750l exchange to remit the £350,000 in londnn. This amount would be provided For out of sinking funds. the balance of which. after deducting this amount. would be approximately £23. 000. This halnncc would be used in rcdurlm: thc rcdcmption loan. therefore necrssitailng (325.000 instead of (330.000 bcinx ralscd in New Zealand. Increase In Revenue. “The gross incrcase in revenue from electricity sales amounted to Hi i? iSs ibl and the ncit sales “971 is I0d,” coniiuuod .\lr l’ricc. \\'hcu rcvicwln: illcsc in 'ses it. i ust not bc ovcrluukcd thimi'tlurps total—ling [also wcrc Kivcn to cousumcrs by tho board in April last .\car. lit was of illicrcsi to noic that llotwiih—l standing ilic nimlml incrcnsc in milk-I inc motors :uldiiiuns for lost .\‘l‘ul‘ ill-st in: i‘.!l‘. thc rmcuuc from this sup. \‘ico for With \\us “.0?! and for lililfi EHJIZKT. :iu lucrcusc 01' only Him for tho ycui'. Discounts nliowcd incicascd by {[3311 :lIIc In tho iucrcascd lomllm.’ in rcspnci to lizhiiu: uud dunicsiicl rcvcmm .uul particularly in rc‘pcci iu‘ numcs. .\0 i‘c\\cr than mitt i'illlSllllit‘l‘S“ haul additional liuhtim: :ilhl lit-.lliiiKl points lnsiailod din-in: ihc .\cur l lion-'ludm: hi< ruin-w. ihc chairman] mild .i lriiuxic in ihc i'.».xrll's siai‘i'. llc. itlllcnl that tlic lvlurvi culllll lonl. l'll[‘—‘ word in u h'uhcr c\pcudiiurc Illmli nliii'lli‘l‘illl'l‘ iu llic cmiuuu .\‘car. “l’crsoimlh. l lixl lnml‘iu: i'ui'\\:ll'll lo \l»[|\9‘ Miisi'acfnry .|lli|l‘l|ili‘l|l |~.\ \\lili‘ll ‘l"""‘l‘ _l"*i‘||l«i"‘ll -|i‘l‘.l~. .illll* ihnsc nu ihc -‘\i"cHl-' misc .rl' Hill“ huuiui.u'ic~_ may i-.» rn‘ i'llllll‘l]. Minot ciulh' \\lu‘i‘c an) hardship -‘\i.~|>." lil‘ HIM. _ ‘