CHEAP ELECTRICITY

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2210, 24 July 1914, Page 8

CHEAP ELECTRICITY

CORPORATION RATE REDTJCED\ A very lengthy joint report from tho Tramways Board of Management and the Electrical Engineer was submitted to the City Council last night, covering all matters conneoted with the charge for track lighting and the supply of current to the several corporation services, including proposals for new conr ditions of oharging for the s Harbour Board and Government - supplies, together with the matter of 1 discounts to large consumers. The report recommended various reductions under the headings of "Track Lighting," "General Street Lighting," "Power Supply," "Heating Supply," "Government Lighting," and "HarEnur Board Lighting." "The proposed reduction in. the scale for power supply from the tramways station,"' it • was stated, "would result in a necessary and-Justi-fiable loss to the Tramways Department of £509 per year in place of the present profit of £993, a loss entailed, by the desirableness of charging a uniform rate for power from either station—tramways or lighting. With a view of still further popularising electrical heating and cooking -we recommend," urged the board, "that the 3d. rate for the jirst 20 units be abolished and a flat rate of lid. charged for all units- con-, sumed, which will mean a/ concession to consumers of £800 'per annum and have every confidence that this further cheapening will induce a*" large number of citizens to install heating appli-i ances."

After brief .discussion the report was adopted, ■ with the exception of the section referring Jo general street liehting, which was'referred to the Street Lighting Committee for consideration.