D.—l.

APPENDIX D.

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CHIEF ELECTRICAL ENGINEER.

The Chief Electrical Engineer to the Hon. the Minister of Public Works. Sir, — I beg to report 011 the position of the development of electric power in the Dominion for the past year, as follows : — GENERATING-SCHEMES IN OPERATION. NORTH ISLAND ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM. 1. Capital Outlay. At the close of the year 1938-39 the total capital outlay was £9,264,384, representing assets in operation, and £446,171, representing assets not in operation, giving a total capital outlay of £9,710,555, and Table II gives an analysis of this amount. 2. Financial Results. The total revenue for the year amounted to £1,127,132 and working-expenses £200,438, which resulted in a gross profit of £926,694, equal to a return of 10-06 per cent, on the average capital in operation (£9,208,227). After paying interest (£353,676), depreciation (£7,228), the departmental proportion of the capital charges on King's Wharf Station (£33,547) and cost of raising loans, &c., amounting to £2,073, there was a net profit of £530,170. Comparative figures for the year ending 31st March, 1938, are as follows : Revenue, £978,492 ; working-expenses, £177,545 ; interest, £349,816 ; depreciation, £50,725 ; and King's Wharf charges, £37,593—with a net profit of £360,662. The accumulated Depreciation Reserve and Sinking Funds as at 31st March, 1939, amounted to £1,783,971. Table 1 gives full particulars of financial results as well as other relevant statistical information. 3. General. The units generated and purchased totalled 935,237,791 for the system. Units actually sold totalled 835,943,799 and units used for station auxiliaries, &c., totalled 7,997,884. The balance of 91,296,108 units represents transmission and distribution losses amounting to 9-76 per cent, of the total output. The maximum load on the system was 174,880 kW. and the annual load factor 61-05 per cent. The total connected load was 1,217,968 kW., and the demand factor or ratio of maximum load to connected load was 14-36 per cent. 4. Construction, Operation, and Maintenance. A. HAMILTON DISTRICT. (1) Construction. (a) power-stations. Arapuni.—Work on the extensions under the control of the General Branch was brought to a close in August, 1938, with the completion of a new blacksmith's shop and approach road, and the erection of precast panelling and lamp standards on the access road to the power-house. A concrete float chamber and platform for the water-level recorder in the spillway was completed, and a 5-ton stop-log gantry crane also was erected. The inclined lift was completed towards the end of the year. The Stratford 110 kV. line and No. 5 line to Penrose were changed over to the outdoor steel structure extensions in June, and the new Edgecumbe UOkY. line was connected up in January. A temporary 50 kV. 0.C.8. has been installed to control supply to the new Edgecumbe line which is being operated at 50 kV. pending the installation of 110 kV. equipment at Edgecumbe.

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