PRICE OF GAS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 87, 9 October 1931, Page 8

PRICE OF GAS

POSITION EXPLAINED

A correspondent's complaint that since the price of gas and the discount rate were reduced accounts have grown considerably in many cases was referred to the general manager of the Wellington Gas Company (Mr. M. J. Kennedy).

The alteration in the method of assessing the accounts, said Mr. Kennedy, had been made to meet representations that the gross price of gas was too high as compared with the net amount. Under the old scale the gross price was 10s a thousand cubic feet, and the discount rate was 3s, making the net amount 7s a thousand. Tho new scale fixed the gross price at 8s 4d a thousand and the discount rate at Is 7d, which made the revised price 6s 9d a thousand. Thus the gross price was now lower than before, and consumers as a whole were getting thoir gas 3d a thousand feet cheaper. To have increased the discount rate to 3s 3d a thousand would not have met the position so far as the gross rate was concerned, and would actually have resulted in those who did not qualify for discount being "fined" an additional 3d. Mr. Kennedy added that any consumer who had a complant to make should get in touch with the company, whose policy had always been to give the fullest satisfaction.