CHEAPER LIGHTING

Manawatu Herald, Volume LI, Issue 4455, 22 May 1930, Page 2

CHEAPER LIGHTING

CONCESSIONS BY lIORO WHERE A POWER BOARD. DI SCO EXT OF 25 PER CENT. TO USERS ON EIG HT PENNY RATE. REDUCTION TO LARGE CONSUMERS, AND A LOWER MINIMUM CHARGE.

Users of electric- light in the Holuwhenua Power Board’s district will ho pleased to learn that, at the meeting of the Board on Tuesday, substantial reductions in the rates were made, these to operate as from the August readings. The concessions are in three classes — one is a direct reduction in the charge to the largest consumers, another is a 25 per cent, discount on tin- rate for the first 150 units per month (this applying to all lighting consumers), and the third is a reduction in the minimum charge. The action was taken as Ihe result of a report by a special committee set up to consider estimates and any possible reduction in rales.

The charges for the first 151) units and the second 150 units per month remain a( Sd and fid per anil respectively, hut the rate for all over .100 units per month is reduced from 5d to Id per unit. After The first two bi-monthly tendings in the current financial year, the system of surcharging for late payment of electricity accounts will be abolished, and units used for lighting and charged at the 8d inte, will be subject lo a discount of 2d per unit, provided that the total amount of the account is paid within 14 days of delivery: all units used on any rate other than lighting at Sd per unit to be nett. Accounts entailing a minimum i barge for lighting of 10s per biiii.nit lily reading will be subject to a minimum discount of 2/(1. The clfcci of this is that, if a consumer use.-, less than 15 units in two months, the minimum charge of 10s will he made, but the consumer will receive 2/fi as discount for prompt payment irrespective of the number of units used under 15. This concession will reduce the minimum charge from 5/- to 3/9 per month. The chairman (ALT. G. A. Monk), in moving the adoption of the recommendations. stated that, hiking the concessions into consideration, it was estimated that the Board's operations for 1930-31 would show a debit balance of £63. With reference to the reduction in the •'barge for all over 300 units per mouth, the committee had felt that big consumers, like the Railway Department, were entitled to some concession in this direction, and that the Board could give I hem a iairly substantial one. The whole concessions would represent a reduction of £35(11) in (lie lighting revenue -for the full year, and this amount was more than the profit made last year: for the eight months the redaction was estimated at C2IOO.

Answering a question by Mr. A. I. Pcthci'ick, the chairman said that the seaside rates had not been lowered, as if was considered by the committee (hat they were already quite cheap enough.

Mr. C. Blenkhorn asked what machinery. the Board had to ensure Ilial flic heating and cooking ac- . omits were paid promptly. The chairman explained that the new discount would not apply unless a consumer's liability for all services was discharged within the i I days. Practically every one of I lie Board’s consumers had Ilia electric light.

The motion was seconded bv Mr E. S. Morse.

Mr. Blenkhorn said that the con cessions were what the public had been looking for for a long time, and lie thought that the proposals would go quite a long way towards satisfying their wants. The chairman: I am very pleased )i- hear that, in the meantime anyway. Can members suggest anything else? T have gone very caret'nllv into all the rates, and there is no doubt that lighting was our henvv rate.

Mr. Morse said that Hie discount principle must appeal to the consumers generally. Mr. W. E. Barber stated that in the Foxfon area the concessions would he popular. Most of the consumers were using light, and the dairy farmers had already been given concessions.

Mr. T. IK Vincent said lie was in full concurrence with the recoin-iin-nda(ions. In view of the amount of money spent by the Board and Hie fact that people were being ask- ■ d i" invest in the undertaking, it had been n wise policy to make l.aMi* slowly in the fliveefion of eoncessions. and if would be well to ih lor another year before taking other reductions into consideration. 1 he recommendations were adopted.