Page:The Czechoslovak Review, vol4, 1920.pdf/290

The Czechoslovak National Assembly passed the “Electricity Bill” on July 22nd, 1919, the purpose of which is the systematic utilization of water power and the electrification of the country’s industries through state financial assistance.

The electrial industry in Czechoslovakia is extensive. In recent years the shortage of coal and lack of petroleum caused a heavy increase in the use of electricity for power, light and household services. The present annual consumption of electric energy, exclusive of the railways, is about 2,500,000,000 kilowatt hours. This demand is supplied by 345 generating stations, while in addition, a large number of private plants take some of the industrial needs.

The National Assembly set aside 75,000,000 Čs. crowns for developing systematic electrification. This sum is to be appropriated in installments during the years 1919 to 1928. The appropriations will be placed at the disposal of the Ministry of Public Works for the erection of hydroelectric plants and for financial co-operation of the state in any electrical undertakings which may form a substantial part of the electric system.

In future, all energy is to be distributed by uniform transmission systems of 22,000 and 100,000 volts. The current will be generated by nine large thermo-electric power stations located in coal districts; three will be erected at Duchcov (Bohemia), Moravská Ostrava (Moravia) and in Slovakia.

According to calculations made for Bohemian and Moravian waterways, which lands are the main provinces in the new State, the electricity which may be generated by water-power is estimated as follow:

Hence these two main rivers can furnish 1,658,000,000 kilowatt hours annually.

Therefore the rivers of Moravia may provide electric energy amounting to about 162,000,000 kilowatt hours per year.

However, Silesia, and Slovakia must be reckoned with. In Slovakia the potential water-power resources are almost unlimited. If the hydro-electric generation of electricity is conservatively estimated at 800,000 h. p. yearly, it will mean an annual saving of about 6,000,000 tons of coal or about 20 percent of the republic’s entire coal output.

In accordance with the law, the state will utilize its water-power and build hydro-electric plants. Constructions of electric conduits and thermo-electric plants will be left to companies of whose capital at least 60 percent will be owned by the state and local authorities, and the remainder by private stockholders.

Electric plants, of whose capital the State holds 60 percent, are declared public utilities, and as such enjoy many privileges, especially regarding taxation, the free use of public roads, railways, rivers and all others lands under state control.

Existing private electric plants which may be necessary links in the electrification scheme, may be condemned by those companies which are designated as public utilities. In such cases the original proprietor will receive either full compensation, or he may participate in the new undertaking to the extent of 40 percent of his original capital, receiving payment for the balance.

The estimated cost of the complete electrification scheme, according to published figures, will be about 3,500,000,000 crowns of which 2,000,000,000 crowns are for construction of hydro-electric plants and 500,000,000 crowns for building steam plants. Primary transmission lines will cost about 500,000,000 crowns and the secondary circuits about the same amount.

The building of the thermo-electric power stations and transmission systems is spread over twenty years. The construction of the water-power stations over fifty years. At present many new large electrical concerns are in process of formation and a Government Commission has been established to deal with all matters concerning these projects.