Page 201 - Bahrain Gov annual reports(V)_Neat

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FOOD CONTROL DEPARTMENT

With the cessation of the issue of barter sugar to importers of live stock, on 29th August,
1954, price control virtually ceased.
The Department is now solely employed in the controlling of prices of such essential
foodstuffs as Wheat, Flour and Rice.

STATE ENGINEERS DEPARTMENT
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE- YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31st, 1954.

Presented by the State Engineer, Mr. D. Brammer, Assoc.I.E.E., A.M.Amer.I.E.E.
The Electricity Undertaking :
Manama “A” Power Station. A new 750 kw. Generating Set was completed and put into
operation on the 11th May, increasing the total installed capacity of the station to 4,500 kw.
Units generated amounted to 19,225,040, an increase of almost 45 per cent, on the previous
year and the supply to the public was maintained without any major interruption.
On June 11th a serious breakdown occurred to No. 9 Generating Set. A piston-head
broke off while the engine was in commission causing serious damage to the cylinder head and
flooding the whole machine with water. Fortunately the necessary spare parts were available
in the Department’s Stores and although the engine had to be completely stripped down and
rebuilt, the machine was in service again in ten days. A truly remarkable achievement by
the Power Station Superintendent and his Staff, who are all Bahrainis trained in the Department.
Mains Department. During the year the following skilled workmen were engaged on
contract from Pakistan : one Cable Jointer, two Linesmen and two Electrical Fitters and
six Bahraini employees were promoted to Linesmen. By this means the rate of connecting
new consumers was increased to four per day and the total connected was 1,550, an increase
of 660 on last year.
An additional three miles of H.T. underground feeder cables were laid in Manama to
strengthen the existing network, two new sub-stations were erected and associated H.T. switch-
gear installed and put into commission. Larger Transformers and L.T. Feeder Pillars were
installed where required to deal with growing loads, and many old overhead L.T. lines were
replaced by underground cables and new conductors. The total capacity of the sub-stations
is now 5,020 K.V.A. Seventy-four new street lamps were erected in various districts and
1,550 new consumers were connected, bringing the total number of consumers to 6,064.

Meter and Consumers Department. During the year, 2,170 meters were repaired and
tested, 1,585 were issued and 56 were removed from various premises due to reconstruction, etc.
Sixty-six Consumers complained of excessive electricity consumption and their meters were
tested in situ. Only 15 were found to be inaccurate. 2,708 applications for new electricity
supply and 906 for additional supplies were received, representing a total additional load of
5,037 k.w. of which 2,672 k.w. was connected. The total number of new applicants awaiting
connection at the end of the year was 3,424, representing a potential load of 2,364 k.w. From
the first of January, monthly meter readings were discontinued and a system of quarterly read­
ings was instituted. This move was a great success in that the work of preparing accounts was
reduccd by one third and almost half the meter readers became redundant.
During March the delivery of accounts through the local postal services was tried out and
proved to be a sound idea but, it can only become completely successful when a door-to-door
delivery is made possiblc'by the efficient numbering of premises. At present house numbering
has no sequence and requires complete reorganisation by the Municipal authorities.
This year the system of Consumers Deposits was abolished and unless strong action can
be taken, in the Police Courts, against defaulters, the Department will suffer considerable loss.
There was not one single case during the year where a consumer gave his new address when
vacating premises.