REDUCED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 329, 16 September 1932, Page 5

REDUCED

POWER CHARGES NEW TARIFFS TO OPERATE IN ! ROTORUA FROM NEXT MONTH ASSISTANCE TO FARMERS An all-roTjnd reduction in. the charges for electricity in the Rotorua Borough, has fceen decided on by the Tourist and Pubiicity Department. The new tariffs will operate as from the first of next month,. The reductions, which are to be gazetted this weck, will greatly benefit all consumers of current supplied by the department. It will be recollected that at the end of July last the Hon. A. Hamilton with Mr. G. W. Clinkard (general manager of the departmont) visited Rotorua, when consideration was given to the charges for electricity supplied by the department. It is as a result of that visit and the conferences hcld tbat reductions ' in the charges have been decided on. All Consumers to Benefit Discuss'ng the reductions, Mr. Hamilton said that the question of a reduction of electrical supply charges had bec.n under consideration by the department for some considerable time. but owing to the many factors which had to be taken into consideration it had not been easy to ari ive at a srdution of the problem. "Concessions made on previous occasions," said the. Minister, "have been for the benefit of ccrtain classes of consumers, or to develop the more extensive ure of electrical appliances. On this occas'on, the tariffs havo been arranged so that there will he a benefit to all consumers, by way of a reduction in the lighting charge. The tariff has been so arranged that while there is a reduction to all consumers, an increased concession will be given to large users of supply for lighting purposes. To encourage further the use of electi'ic cooking appliances the tariff for this purpose has also been lowered, and it is hoped that this reduction will result in an increased use of electricity in this direction. Currenl for Dalry Farms "In connection with the supply for dairy farm purposes, a meter system of charging is provided for in place of the old flat rate system. This nev; scale, besides providing for a reduction in charges, will also have the benefit that the charges payable by the consumer will be in direct proportion to the amount eonsumed, and that in the winter months, if the motors are not being used, the consumer will not have to pay any meter account in connection with the motor supply. New Account Forms "The total amount which will be represented by these reductions in charges is very considerable, and will, it is hoped, be of material benefit to consumers. The new account form incorporates a new discoUnt system which it is considered will largely overcome the objections to the previous style of account form and the method of calculating the. discount." The Minister said that during the investigations leading up to the decision to reduce the price of electricity, it was found that the charges in the Rotorua district compared very favourably with those in surrounding districts, and districts of similar size throughout the Dominion.