PRICES OF ELECTRICITY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3695, 24 September 1927, Page 1

PRICES OF ELECTRICITY.

THE HOROWHENUA SYSTEM A COMPARATIVE REVIEW. A report presented to the Horowhenua Power Board by the Treasurer .shows that during the first four months of the present financial year there lias been a total increase of revenue earned of 20.63 per cent, as compared with the same period 12 months ago. The analysis of units sold and revenue earned (including large consumers’ accounts for the quarter ended June 30th) is as under: — Units Revenue Lighting —April-July — 1926 " 103,835 £3593 1927 ■ 146,280. £4853 Increase 42 2 445 £1260 Percentage increase 40.081 £35.06 Average return per unit sold — 1926. 8.30 d. 1927—7.96 d. Heating —April-July — 1926 125,595 £936 1927 216,362 £1573 Increase 90,767 £636 Percentage increase 72-26 67.98 Average return per unit sold — 1926—1.79 d. 1927. 1.74 d. Power —April-July— 1926 419,007 £3297 1927 474,153 £3467 Increase 55,146 £169 Percentage increase 13.16 5;.15 Average return per unit sold—- , 1926.—1.88 d. 1927.T-1.54d. Water Heaters —April-July-— 1926 £SBO 16 3 1927 £835 7 9 Increase £254 11 6 Percentage of increase 43.82 Meter Rents—April-July--1926 £463 1927 £565 Increase £lO2 Percentage of increase 22.00 Street Lighting —April-July:—

1926 £3OO 1927 £320 Increase - £l9 Percentage of increase 6.58 Totals —April-July--1926 ~ £9,172 1927 £11,615 Increase £2,443

Percentage of increase 26.63 In his report, the Treasurer said: —“Lighting: Units used this year as compared with last year, are 40.08 per cent. more. Revenue increase is 35.06 per cent., which indicates we arc selling cheaper this year than last year. This is proved. by the fact that the return per unit last year was over 8d —actually 8.3 d per unit. This year the return is under 8d —viz., 7.96 d. To get more than 8d means that some of our consumers have not used the minimum. The lesser rate for the current year is accounted for by the fact that the Otaki Sanatorium, the Paekakariki railway station, and some of the picture theatres get a portion of their lighting at Gd per unit. The flax and crushing plants working at night portion of their lighting at Id per unit. Heating: Consumption of units shows an increase of i 2.26 per cent.; revenue, an increase of 67.98 per cent. This indicates (1) that there is a very solid increase under this head—viz., 72 per cent, aud (2) the lower percentage of revenue as against units shows that the increase in consumption has been mainly at the lsd cooking rate and not in the ordinary heating rate of 4d per unit. Power: During the four months under review, ”a good deal of night work comes into the account,, and this at Ml per unit brings down the average and accounts for the revenue being only 51 per cent, more than for the same period last year, a - though the units used show an increase of 13.16 per cent. General- The average increase of revenue —26.6-3 per cent.— may be considered satisfactory, especially when it is remembered that tne four-months period taken are no the best months of the year. The chairman remarked 1 there was a solid increase m m revenue from heating, and the lo« er percentage per unit in us partment was due to the increased number of consumers at the - cooking rate. This was a natural tiling to expect. Every monthly ieport from the . Boards engineer showed that additional ranges w being connected. In connecUon with the power mght-rate o 1 unit, this was profitable or Board, provided that it lowered the peak, or, more correctly, the hollows. The Board would not be able to discuss meter vents longer, for which he was rather 6 tt +v.rmcrht the Board wosorry. He thought the uld feel the loss of these considerably.

Mr. Vincent: Our stuff is too dear. j The Chairman: Which is too dear? | Mr. Vincent: The whole outfit, i

The Chairman: It will be one of the duties of the Board, if it earns ! too much revenue, to hand it back to the consumer, and that will cheapen it. < Mr. Vincent: I supjiose there is no chance of getting the dairy factories under the heating rate? j The Chairman: These dairy factories- seem to be pretty well satisfied —Shannon in particular. i Mr. Barber: The service is all right.