THEFT OF POWER.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVII, Issue 4936, 8 February 1926, Page 1

THEFT OF POWER.

ELECTRICITY WITHOUT PAYMENT. BOARD SEEKS A REMEDY. Mr Flatt stated at Tuesday's meeting of the Thames Valley Power Board that he had heard that it was possible to instal grillers which would consume more power than was being p.aid for.

Mr McLeod (engineer): A consumer is) allowed a certain amount of electricity and to exceed that ig' theft. There have already been some prosecutions.

Mr Flatt: When they buy their grillers from us we know where we are, for we then know what electricity will be consumed. Continuing, Mr Flatt said he understood that for a very small cost limiters could be attached. They had an inspector, but he could be beaten by the telephone, for asi he left one house another house could be rung up and the inmates warned. He had heard of one man who was paying about £3 and was consuming about £l2 worth of power. He was- wondering whether any steps could be taken to have the board notified of any sales of stoves or grillerst in the district. Mr Price Baid he had brought the same matter up some years ago.

Mr McLeod said the difficulty with the ordinary “limiter” w,as that when the power reached a certain point it not only cut off the power from, the griller, but from the lights as well.

Mr McCormick said he was quite sure that some people were using more power than they should. Mr Flatt said he knew that they were. He suggested that the engineer give the matter some thought during the next month and try and find some way out of the difficulty. The suggestion was adopted.