ELECTRIC HEAT AND POWER

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 149, 19 March 1921, Page 8

ELECTRIC HEAT AND POWER

SLIGHT INCREASES PROPOSED A DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS The following recommendation was submitted to the City Council by the Tramways and Power Stations Committee last night:— “That the following alterations to the tariff for alternating current supply be approved, such alterations to come into effect on and from April 1:—“Supply for heating, 2d. per unit not (present rate 2d. per unit with 25 per cent, discount). This will have the effect of slightly reducing the current used for heating and ease the load on the station during the peak loading hours.

“Power supply, 4d. per unit with existing discount scale. This will bring the price of the alternating current supply equal to the direct current, and thereby remove the anomaly which at present exists." Councillor J. O. Shorland moved that the clause be referred back to the committee. It seemed to him that the committee “had the wind up.” The accounts showed a debit, but he thought that the big cost of this undertaking had been reached, and it was now on the dojvn grade. At the end of the year tho electric lighting account would, with the aid of adjustments, be in credit by some £6OOO. He was entirely opposed to increasing the cost of living in that or any other way. Councillor C. H. Chapman was assured that the proposed increase would ■fact affect domestic accounts.

The Alayor said that it was not fair to put up the tramway fares and allow traders to carry on as if the cost of production had not been increased; He understood that each heating radiator consumed enough current to light a hundred cottages, and he would sooner see all the current reserved for lighting. Councillor AL F. Luckie pointed out that there wore many people waiting for lighting connections, and he took it that lighting was the first call on the city’s electric plant. Councillor L. Al'Kenzie supported, the amendment. If the council were going to make the increase they should go into the matter more thoroughly. There should be an inquiry into the whole business, an inquiry which up to the present had been burked. They were not going to come out so badly. The department, when it received the interest on the moneys loaned to other departments, was going to show a handsome profit. Councillor Chapman referred to ths profits made by the department in past years. Councillor C. B. Norwood flaid he believed that each year should stand on its own. The committee’s proposal affected no one domestically, except those who had radiators all over the house. All the current possible should bo availalffe for lighting. Councillor J. M. Dale eaid that Councillor Norwood had not grasped the fact that in most cases current for lighting and heating went through the same meter, and he maintained that it would affect domestic accounts.

Councillor B. G. H. Burn said he was against the clause if it was going to increase domestic accounts.

The Alayor admitted that the domestic rate would be affected nominally where there were hot points. Councillor T. Forsyth said the new charge was certainly going to increase domestic bills, probably by 9d. per month. He approved the adjustment proposed, as he believed that it was sound to put the undertaking on a business basis. He drew attention to the debits for February and for the past eleven months in support of the proposed increase. Councillor Shorland said they had not made a loss—they were making a profit. In the interests of the citizens he felt it his duty to divide the council on a clause that was going to affect every home. . He hoped that every councillor would do his duty and throw it out. The amendment was carried by 10 votes to 9.