ELECTRICITY CHARGES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 68, 28 April 1944, Page 4

ELECTRICITY CHARGES

jority of our councillors are not progressive. The logical thing to do, when we see the electricity account in such a healthy state would be to reduce the rate.; not increase it. Now Sir, my solution toJ:he situation while agreeing that electricity must be conserved, would be to install time-switches like the ones already in service in some, homes today in Whakatane. It must also be pointed out that the cost must be reduced in order that the consumer should be compensated for that reduction and inconvenience. U w r ould also like to point out that, we have one of the highest if not the highest electricity rate in New Zealand. Now another point, arises 1 , has the council the authority of the Stab-: iliisation. Committee to increase the cost of electricity? I doubt this very much. I also find on comparing my electricity account at the existing rates for light, heat and. range, Avith the proposed new rate there is also an increase. Now when we take 1 20 per i;ent increase on hot water heating and an increase on light, heating and range for eyery consumer in the Borough we must realise, that a very large amount of money is involved. I would ask consumers to give their protest through the press or otherwise against this inequitous piece; of local administration. Yours etc., N., S. MAJOR.

Sir, : —I, like all other consumers of electricity in. the borough, have received notice' of new and greatly increased rates for electricity. The notice informs us that there is to be an increase of 20 per cent on the cost of hot water. This to my mind' is an unjustified attempt to keep , the electricity account at the same level and rediice their own costs. To penalise the consumers in order that this shall be so is nothing short of vict.imisa-> tion, in fact it proves that the ma(Continued in next column)