D.—l.

GROWTH OF LOAD. The total connected load at end of the year under review was 1,476,487 Kw., compared with 1,342,577 for 1936, an increase of 133,910 Kw., or 10 per cent. Statistics pertaining to the increasing use of electric ranges, electric water-heaters, and milkingmachines have been collected and scheduled for some years past, and from the following table will be seen the annual growth which has taken place in each class : —

The total increase in route-miles of line for tie above twelve-year period is 289 per cent. See Table XIV for details of ranges, waterheaters, and milking-machines for year ended 31st March, 1937. ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND ELECTRICAL WIRING REGULATIONS. During the past year numbers of 6 volt, 12 volt, and 18 volt portable electric-lighting plants have been installed in territories not readily accessible to public electric-supply systems. Under the Electrical Wiremen's Registration Act the services of a registered wireman are not necessary to install the wiring where the voltage does not exceed 20 volts, but this does not include exemption from the requirements of the Electrical Wiring Regulations issued under the Public Works Act. Some modification of the standard Electrical Wiring Regulations is deemed necessary in such cases, and the Regulations Advisory Committee has under way the preparation of regulations defining the requirements to be observed by persons installing such sets with a rating not exceeding 500 watts. INSPECTION OF ELECTRIC LINES, ALSO PRIVATE GENERATING-PLANTS. The annual departmental inspection of the electric lines in operation was carried out in the case of supply authorities last year, and any defects or breaches of the regulations which came under notice were duly notified to the supply authorities concerned. In one instance an electric-supply authority was called on to reconstruct an E.H.T. line which had been erected contrary to regulation standards. These inspection activities of the Department undoubtedly tend towards the maintaining of a high standard, and the general willingness on the part of the supply authorities to co-operate in a general observance of the regulations governing such matters is of great assistance to this Department. The following supply authorities have notified extensions to electric lines in their respective districts during the year : — Power Boards — Power Boards —continued. Boroughs — Ashburton. Southland. Hamilton. Auckland. Springs-Ellesmere. Lyttelton. Banks Peninsula. Taranaki. Napier. Cambridge. Tararua. New Plymouth. Central Hawke's Bay. Tauranga. Ohakune. Central Waikato. Te Awamutu. Patea. Dannevirke. Thames Valley. Picton. Franklin. Waitomo. Taumarunui. Golden Bay. Waimea. Thames. Hawke's Bay. Wairarapa. Westport. . Hutt Valley. Wairere. County Councils — Horowhenua. Waitaki. Heathcote. Malvern. Waitemata. Waimairi. Marlborough. Wanganui-Rangitikei. Companies — Manawatu-Oroua. Cities — Alderton Utility Co. North Canterbury. Dunedin. Kanieri Electric, Ltd. Ota,go. Invercargill. Skippers Ltd. Otago Central. Nelson. Westland Power, Ltd. Poverty Bay. ' Palmerston North. Hume (Cobb River) E.P. Co. South Canterbury. Wellington. , Westport Coal Co. South Taranaki. It is not generally known that under the Electrical Wiremen's Registration Amendment Act, 1928, it is mandatory to give notice of the installation of private electric plants, and provision is made for the inspection of these plants before same are placed in service. During the year inspections have been made as opportunity offered.

98

I I . " 1 I I Route " . . I . . , Electric . , , Electrified • , „ miles of „ Annual i Electric j Annual Wntpr Annual Milkins- Annual Year - Line in Consu s - Increase, j Ranges. Increase. heaters. Increase - ; machines. Increase - Service. j j | Number. ! Per Cent. Number. Per Cent. Number. Per Cent. Number, j Per Cent. 1925 .. 6,011 148,699 .. 1,526 .. .. .. 3,581 1926 .. 12,454 192,392 29'3 4,671 205*0 6,654 .. 4,856 35'8 1927 .. 14,975 228,345 j 18*7 9,511 104-0 14,160 113*0 6,738 38'8 1928 .. 17,063 243,795 ! 6*8 15,766 66*0 21,513 52*0 8,514 26*3 1929 . 17,759 266,306 9*2 20,254 28*5 29,257 36*0 10,161 19*4 1930 .. 19,128 284,235 : 6*7 25,997 28*3 37,564 28-5 11,922 17*3 1931 .. 19,636 300,809 5-9 29,480 13*2 42,803 13-9 13,656 14'5 1932 .. 20,251 309,360 j 2*8 31,973 8*5 45,796 7*1 14,163 3*7 1933 .. 20,585 322,997 i 4-4 33,998 6*4 48,070 5*0 15,913 12*4 1934 .. 20,996 334,593 ! 3'6 36,081 6*2 50,272 4*6 16,992 6*8 1935 .. 21,707 342,334 I 2*3 39,730 101 53,635 6*7 17,200 1*2 1936 .. 22,424 355,973 , 4-0 44,837 12*9 58,864 9*8 18,458 74 1937 .. 23,322 371,027 j 4-2 53,402 191 67,049 13*9 20,275 9*8 i