20 N. H. Agricultural Experiment Station [Bulletin 266 



has a water-front, in the early morning of each day, and the addition of the 

 following articles: Heating pad; Egg beater; Corn popper; Oscillating; fan; 

 Electric clock, and Motor driven grindstone. All these new appliances are 

 operated from the light circuit. With the exception of the grindstone and 

 6 lights in the barn, all additions have been for the home and none are heavy 

 current consumers. 



The diistribution of equipment (refer to Table 8) shows that 81% of 

 Ihe number of appliances were used in tlie liome and 19*^/ on the farm. 

 The cost of e(|uipment was about eqiuUly divided between the two. 



Figure 6 shows the fixed .scale of operations in both the load curves 

 and bulk-use columns. Except for variations which are readily trace- 

 able to seasonal conditions and the like, the load curves have the same 

 general contour year after year. The midsummer peak in this case is 

 practically ideal, being condensed between June and October. Refrig- 

 eration and the greater use of the electric section of the combination 

 range are largely responsible for this. 



During the winter, consumption runs between 400 and 600 kw.-hrs. 

 per month. During the summer months it runs from 800 to nearly 

 1.000 kw.-hrs. per month. The utility of electricity on the farm when 

 given proper attention is evident by a comparison of the five upper 

 curves with the lower curve, which represents normal use before this 

 field was developed. 



In bulk load this farm is a model of steadiness. During the last five- 

 year period the average total annual consumption has been 7,306 kw.- 

 hrs., from which it has varied less than 3% per year. In 1927 and 

 1928 there was a decrease of some 400 kw.-hrs. when some trial equip- 

 ment was removed. Left to its own devices during 1929 and 1930, the 

 load was built up close to the high point of 1926. It will be observed 

 that there is no evidence of any tendency to reduce the use of current 

 after the conclusion of the load-building activities which were com- 

 pleted by the close of 1926. 



Aside from the reduction from 8l/^c to SVsc per kw.-hr. in 1926, 

 which was solely the result of increased volume of use, the rate re- 

 ductions following this have been made by the utility and indicate the 

 general downward trend in cost of current which has occurred in a 

 large part of the New England territory during this period. 



The combination range not only satisfies the requirements of heating 

 the farm kitchen, but is responsible for more than two-thirds of the 

 summer load. 



Observation of this and other cases leads to the conclusion that this 

 type of combination range, as contrasted to that on Farm No. 3, should 

 always be considered first for farm use, after which the standard type 

 may be resorted to for kitchens already heated or for other reasons. 

 In this way both the utility and the farmer are satisfactorily taken 

 care of. 



The current consumed by this particular range is probably some- 

 what high, however. The range is equipped with a two-cover wood sec- 

 tion and four surface plates and only an electric oven. Under these 

 conditions all oven baking is done electrically. There is no automatic 

 temperature control on the oven, and the housewife feels confident 

 that the maJHial control is not only wasteful of current, but is much 



