June, 1932] Electricity on New England Farms 51 



In view of these possibilities, it would seem to be wise policy and an 

 economy for both farmer and utility to provide entrance service equip- 

 ment of sufficient size to permit of the drawing in of a three-wire ser- 

 vice later on, even if it is not done at the outset. The increased cost 

 of large conduit and three-pole equipment is not great as compared to 

 the removal and replacement of small two-wire entrances which may 

 be found to have insufficient capacit3^ This should not be considered 

 a hard and fast rule for all rural customers, and judgment would have 

 to be exercised as to what individual active farms show promise of de- 

 veloping sufficient load. Several experiences of this nature have shown 

 that difficulties in the future can be thus avoided as well as an ultimate 

 saving made for the farm customer. 



CONCLUSIONS 



The electric load on the seven test farms has shown two character- 

 istics. The dairy farms have, for the five-year period, repeatedly reg- 

 istered a distinct peak during the summer months, usually May to 

 October. Poultry farms, on the other hand, appear to develop their 

 maximum load in the cold months. There is, presumably, a third type 

 of farm load which has a more or less even loading effect throughout 

 the year. 



In Figure 1 (See front cover) is shown the composite load cui'ves 

 for the four dairy farms (which are also representative for general 

 purpose and stock farms) and the fruit farm for the five-year period; 

 the two poultry farms are not included since the type of load curve 

 developed is not comparable. The center white band is the average 

 of all readings for these five farms for the five-year period, and is 

 considered representative of a well developed rural load, of particular 

 significance in which is the peak load in midsummer. For the char- 

 actei'istics of poultry farm loads the reader is referred to Farm No. 7 

 in the preceding pages. 



A well defined tendency to increase the use of electricity over a pe- 

 riod of years has been observed with little or no indication of reducing 

 the consumption as a result of financial stress, farm business reverses 

 or the expiration of guarantees on new line extensions. This should 

 assure power companies of the substantial qualities attached to rural 

 development. 



A substantial load is possible in the home of an active farm and may 

 be placed on the line with the least sales resistance and service diffi- 

 culty of any of the equipment which a farm can use. The relying on 

 this type of farm load alone will, however, yield an annual power fac- 

 tor on rural lines similar to that already placed on generating stations 

 by urban loads and cannot be relied upon to bring in a peak load dur- 

 ing the summer months when the urban demand on generating equip- 

 ment is at low ebb. 



To insure the development of a summer peak load on rural lines, 

 the greatest net results will be obtained from refrigeration, ranges, 

 booster water heaters, and by electrifying operations connected direct- 



