Power Rationing Affects Revenue

Chronicle (Levin), 21 October 1949, Page 4

Power Rationing Affects Revenue

. y — For the first six months last year the estimated revenue had oeen exceeded by £2723, compared wit/h a decrfcase of £16,04 this year, stated the managing-secretary of tlie Korpwhen^ Eiecvric Power Board, Mr. R. A.' Fredprik§on, "when. liq his monthly report to Wednpsday's meetirig of the board. " These figures gave some indicatipn of the loss orought about by rationing, he said. The reduction was particulariy heavy under domestic supply, which normaLy should have returned more than che estimate for the firs't half year. "Referring to unit saies, the secretary said that the reduction was epnfined to units at |d, indicating a'very substahtial reduction in the use of electricity for space heatihg. Apart from supply to essential services, commoircial supply had a.so been curtailed by' rationing, he added. On the other hand, continued Mr. Frederikson, rationing had materially assisted in keeping the peak load down, with the result that the extra cost of power for jhe quarter had amounted to £470, compared with the revenue increase of £2558. "Under the circumstpnces of reatrictpd supply of electricity, I feet the pojsition displosed by the accounts is quite satisfactory." Revenue for the half year was up By £2558 agaihst an increase of £470 in the cost of power purchased. In snite of the increased price for bulk power, the ratio of pqwer pm'chases. to saies had improved from 46 to 54 to 44.5 to 55.5, while the average cost per unit purchased had been .3899, compared with .4024 last year, h'e concluded. New Cannections. During the nionth 96 applicatiohs for new c'onnections had been received stated the engineer, Mr. J. F. Bryce, in his mon'„hly rqpprt. These inpluded 90 lighring ah"d heating * installations, 61 ranges, 58 water-heaters, three milking motprs, two separator mo'tors, seven 'pumping motors, and live industrial motors. Applications for 106 extensions had also been received. The engineer sqid that 61 new consumers and 48 cqnnections had b.een connected during 'ihe month. The new installations had been connected in the following areas: \ Levin 24, Foxton 5, Shannon 1, Tokomaru 3, Otaki 9, Te HoroWaikanae 9, Paraparaumu-Paeki-kariki 10.