WAIROA ELECTRICITY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 53, 25 November 1937, Page 7

WAIROA ELECTRICITY

Our Owp Correspondent.)

All-Roiind Increase in Charges

(From

: WAIROA, Last Night'. An all-round increase in the electricity charges, operative from the . meter reading at the beginning p'f Deeember, was agreed upon by the Wairoa Borough Council last night. ! This action is a sequel to the dispute 'between the Wairoa Electric Power Board and the Borough Council over tlie payment for the bulk supply of electricity to the borough. Tlie new* schedule or rates, which Was adopted on the recommendation of the Electricity Committee, is as f ollows : — Domestic rates: Flat rate for lighting, 6d per unit, plus 10 per cent., and in addition for heating and cooking, first 40 units a month, 3d a unit, .plus 10 per cent. Alternative domestic rate: First 40 units a month, 3d a unit, plus 10 per cent. Business premises rate: Flat Tate for lighting at 6d a unit, plus 10 per cent. Alternative business premises rate: Three units for each 100 watts installed, at 6d a unit, plus 10 per cent. Hotel rates: Flat rate for lighting at 6d a unit, plus 10 per cent. Alternative hotel rates: For the first 100 units a month, at 6d a unit, plus 10 per cent. Bioscope: Flat rate of 3-ld a unit, plus 10 per ecnt. In reply to a question by Cr. J . O. Scott, the Mayor, Mr H. L. Harlcer, / stated that the increased rate was necessary because the borough had to pay the Power Board £900 more than was provided for in the estimates. The council had antieipated a xeduction from the Power Board, and consequently the eonsuming rate was- reduced by the council. The Power Board's reduetion, however, had iiot materialised. In his opinion the borough was paying too rnuch for electricity. Alternative Rate Cancelled. It was also decided tl.at the alternative meter rate be cancelled as frqm December, 1937, but such cancellation not to apply to the Wairoa Co-op. Dairy Company, Ltd., until the necessary control equipment and tWo-rate meter has been installed at their factory, and when this is complcted they bo charged at the rate of ld a unit for supply ofO peak hours, which are approximately two hours at midday and • two hours in the evening (such hours to be_ determined by the borough electrical engineer) and at the rate of 3d a unit for supply given during the above mentioned peak hours. Such tariff to apply only to the Dairy Company's motors used in connection with the manufacture of butter and for eheese and incidentals thereto. The electricity committee also. reported that for the year ended November 30, 1937, the Wairoa Hospital Board had been granted a concession in electricity tariifs whereby all electrical units consumea for that year in cxcess of 60,000 units would be charged for at |d a unit. The committee recommended that no similar concession be granted after November 30, 1937. No adviee had yet been received from the Municipal Electricity Supply Association or its council, of, the decision of the Supreme Court in the action of tlie Wairoa Electric Power Board against the borough, and the committee recommended that a committee be set up to meet the Power Board when offieial adviee was received. Both recommendations were approved. ____________