ELECTRIC LIGHT.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 13 April 1926, Page 7

ELECTRIC LIGHT.

PROPOSED R EDUCTION IN / CHARGES. :" : / THE ENGINEER’S PROPOSALS n- At ’’'ffbt’s meeting of the imam Borough Council, tlfc electric light engineer reported having analysed the different methods of revenue, And found that the recommendation below safety-— 6 ad ° P - tcd ' vith .reasonable DOMESTIC LIGHTJNG. ■ ■' ■ At present tiie charges ure 8d - per unit, idr_ tile first twenty -units,- per month; ,d for the next eighty Units,' and tile balance Gd per unit. The number pf units consumed for domestic Jigllting fast year were 205,000, .and oo per cent. Were used by using twenty and under twenty units per month, so after reviewing tiie position, he recommended the following reduction;— ‘ .hirst ‘2O units for domestic houso lighting, 7d; balance 4d. . This would anOct the Departmentas follow's : 205,000 units reduced Id equals £852 loss, hut that at least 20 to 25 per cent, more current would be used, so that tho joss was shown thus:—

20 per cent-, of 205,000 units equals 41,000 ; 41,000 units at 7d equals TllOG; therefore, the actual position was: Loss equals £852, gain £1190; nett gain £344 on the present revenue.

HEATING AND IRONING. With the present 5s minimum, the cost is 4d per unit, and the number of units sold under this heading for the past twelve months was 70,000 units, and I recommend the reduction of Id per unit. This would mean a loss of £290, , but the increase in current sold under this heading would he 25 to 30" per cent. Taking it at 25 per cent., the position woiikt be £29U, less 25. pel- cent, added to 70,000 units at 3d per unit, with increase in business equals £220. The nett Josi, therefore, would be only £7O.

I'lie present minimum charge only alfccts the very small consumers, most of whom are not too well off, and to reduce same would be a, great benefit to them. The number of. consumers, who do not exceed the minimum on the average over twelve months is approximately 300. To -reduce the minimum to 3s per month does' not mean a loss of £3O a month, or £360 per year, but about half .of this amount. I recommend that this com cession be given tho small consumer. The minimum charge lor general ■ service of lighting, cooking and water heating is £l per mouth, and I recommend that this bo 12s Gd per . month. This will eliconr'ago cooking and waterheating, whereas. I. find, that tlio present charge scares away prospective consumers. "With these recommendations adopted, the consumers . will get very substantial benefits, and with the second transmission line in operation and the voltage regulator giving a steady even voltage, < V.Ayuuvr.s will find many uses for electricity from a good cheap supply The report was held over for consideration at next meeting.