ELECTRICITY CHARGES

Taupo Times, Volume 11, Issue 79, 22 July 1953, Page 4

ELECTRICITY CHARGES

JHE discussion on electricity charges at the last meeting of the Tow-rt Board, reported in this issue of the Times, dealt with a matter that ?s of considerable interest to the growing number of users of electric power in Taupo. With the benefits and conveniences of electric light and power being fully realised and appreciated, as a result of the availabiiity, after many years of 'backblock" conditions, it is naturai that consumers should begin to look forward to using more and more electrical appliances. Nof leasf amongst the advantages they would like to have are those of using electric ranges, water-heaters, and radiators. All of which methods of using electric power consume considerable quantities of current, and reise at once the question of cost. One of the querles discussed at the Board's meeting was as to whether it would not be good business to reduce the rates charged in order to increase the saies ot current, in view of the fact that approximately half only of the maximum possible output of the present generator was being used. This suggestion is one that cannot be answered satisfactorily unless the present position of the Board's power scheme is fully understood. The generator at present in use was installed in order to secure for the peopie of Taupo the advantages of electric light, plus those small electrical appliances, as soon as possible. It was impossible to purchase from stocks a generator of the capacity required for full operation of the power station, but it was possible to purchase the present smaller auxiliary machine, and by so doing secure the benefit of electric light some ten or eleven months sooner than otherwise would have been the case. It is realised that the demand for current for power, cooking, heating and other heavy consumptlon purposes would quickly overload the small generator unless its use for such general power purposes were strictly rationed. And practical experience in such matters showed tjnat the oniy practicable method of rationing was through the rate to be charged for the current. The present temporary tariff was the result. It does impose a relatively high charge for current for power purposes, but known demand for power is such that it is certain that a general reduction in tariff immediately would overload the generator within a very short time. Some present reductions might be possible for special limited uses, a matter for the Engineer's consideration on the basis of study of the present load, The Report presented to the Board's recent meeting by the Electricai Inspecfor showed that some forty-six new consumers were connected last monfh. Forty-two were connected the previous month. It is likely that similar numbers will be connected in coming months, and that it may be severai months betore the main generator is in use. Ihe danger of overload* ing the generator by reducing the power tariff now Is thus emphasised. It is a danger that it would be unwise to run, and unjust to present consumers, and those to be connected in the near future, to incur. Power shortage at peak hours Is the last thing Taupo consumers want. In his review of the power scheme in our last issue of June 3rd, Mr Lloyd Mandeno, the Board's engmeer, stated that the then ea'rnings were' fust sufficienf to cover all costs of operation and also capital charges on the loan moneys so far expended. That being the case, there would seem to be no reason, at the present time, to seek to increase the present earnings of the scheme. Obviously, once the main generator has been installed, and the town reticulated fully, the greater saies revenue the better^ With an ample supply available, and no danger of peak shortages, greater consumption will, as Mr Mandeno's recent review pointed out, enable 'tariff reductions to be made. Meanfime, the wise course would appear to be to wait patiently, a liftle longer, for cheaper rates for power for general purposes and so ensure that there is sufficienf current for all consumers at atl times, pending insta Nation of the main power unit. The record of the Board's power scheme to date suggests that this matter of tariffs can wisely be left to the Board's engineer to advise on, and that his advice will be in the best inferests of consumers and ratepayers..