Central Power Board Rates Up

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30980, 9 February 1966, Page 1

Central Power Board Rates Up

The striking of new power charge rates that will add an average of 10s to the twomonthly bill of a five-person family was unanimously decided on by the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board at its monthly meeting yesterday.

Also to be increased are night rate and heat storage power rates, bulk rates and some commercial and industrial rates. The increased charges, which average 12 per cent, will provide £77,450 additional revenue to the board. This is after a decrease of £1661 in Malvern rates to equate them has been deducted. The increased rates will apply to all accounts read and rendered on and after June 1, 1966. The board could not continue to absorb rising costs on its present rate schedule, said the board's engineermanager (Mr S. E. Slatter) and secretary-manager (Mr V. G. Mason) in a joint report to the board yesterday. Commenting on the increased costs, the board's chairman (Mr W. A Newton) said: “At the annual meeting 1 said we must be sailing pretty close to the wind . . . that is just what we have been doing. Something has to be done about it." The beard, he said, had been able to absorb increased i wage costs since 1961. which had automatically put up the cost of everything else. But it could no longer do so. Mr W. H. Faulkner told the board when the new rate was being discussed that it was a good job it was not election . year. Mr T. F. Carter: “It would be a good time for us to go away for a trip for the next two or three weeks, I think." The new rates are: Domestic.—Low rate units to be increased from ,7d to 9d each, giving the board an , additional revenue of £34,652. Other domestic charges will remain the same. Commercial And Industrial. —One hundred and eighty

units a month at 3d to be increased to 200, the balance to be increased from 2d to 2.3 d each. Other commercial and industrial charges to remain the same. This increase is expected to give the board an additional revenue of £11,962.

Bulk Rate.—KVA charge to be increased to £3 16s Od from £3 12s 6d. The unit rates to be raised from .35d each to ,45d each. This will provide an estimated additional revenue of £29,832. One large consumer on a special rate will have his rate increased proportionately. This is expected to bring in a further £l2OO. Night Rate And Heat Storage Rate.— The unit rate is to be increased from 6d to .7d each. It is expected to bring in additional revenue of £1465 Mr Mason said that the one rate would be struck over the whole of the board's area. The Malvern rate would be in i line.