CHEAPENING COST.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 878, 26 July 1910, Page 8

CHEAPENING COST.

METAL FILAMENT LAMPS. • ' At the meeting yesterday .of the ■Tramways.Committee of the City Council, the monthly report of the' City Electrical Engineer (Mr. Stuart Richardson), oh tho revenue and expenditure and upon the corporation electric, lighting lor the month of June, was presented.' \ :.-;■■'

The revenue for tho month amounted to £4801, as compared with £5161 for the corresponding month of last ■ year. "Tho comparison," says the engineer, "is, however, not so unfavourable as is really shown, on account of the fact that tho meters were read throughout the month of. June, so that the highest revenue (which is midVwinter) will not, •I anticipate,'ho shown until tho ..end of' July,', whilst last year s the maximum revenue was>derived'from meter-reading to the end" of June. " .

"There is.no doubt that the more general use of metallic filament' lamps' is still, further cheapening tho cost of lighting. The following tablo is of interest in showing the great decrease in the average lighting bills for the quarter ending June 30 in 1908, 1909, and 1910:- . . . 1908 '.:■ 1909. . 1910. £ s. d. £'s. d. ; £ s. d. ' 3 011 2.15 9 .2 9 4 • ■ "This shows that in two years the jverago decrease in . the lighting •accounts amounted to lis. 7d., or 20 per cent, per consumer for tho quarter. "I am pleased to report, however, that the iiuances of the department are remaining quite satisfactory, duo to tho rapid increase, in new • consumers, and the decreaso in cost of production, lor the quarter ended Juno '30, 233 now * connections, wore made, as com-, pared with 181 in . the corresponding period of last year,'and.l49 in' 1908. The working expenses in June amounted to £2036,, as compared, with £2251 last year, a decrease of £215. After providing for proportion of interest, sinking fund, and depreciation, the net result for this quarter is a credit balance of £3130, as compared with £2666 last year."-