WATER HEATING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 August 1943, Page 4

WATER HEATING

POWER BOARD’S DECISION METERED CHARGE IN PLACE OF FLAT RATE. ELIMINATION OF WASTAGE. (“Times-Age” Special.) A resolution bringing into force a metered rate of 3-8 d per unit for water heating was' adopted at today’s meeting in Cartc-rton of the Wairarapa Electric Power Board. Hitherto flat rates have operated. The Secretary-Manager, Mr G. Brown, spoke of the need of eliminating waste. He said boards generally had found that a flat rate made for waste. The compulsory metering of water heating was first brought in about 18 months ago and later a general formula was agreed upon. The metering of water heating was compulsory and the board had no option. Mr Brown said that after the war wastage would -still have to be eliminated. Under the board’s proposal, although the price per unit was increased, it did not follow that the annual cost would be increased to the consumer, as the latter only paid for the actual electricity used. The new service would be more flexible and the nine hours’ flat rate service was still available. On the nine hours’ service there was not likely to be the wastage that occurred on the longer hour service.

The Price Tribunal and the Electricity Controller advised that it approved of the proposed metering rate. MR HUGO OPPOSES INCREASE.

Mr H. P. Hugo said he did not favour the increase in the water heating rate. He asked what was the position of consumers, under guarantees, who were on a flat rate at present. There was no question but that it would cost them more. He recorded his vote against the increase. Mr Brown said that over a year the consumers mentioned would not pay much more.

“The consumers will have to be educated,” observed Mr A. C. Pearce (chairman).

Mr Brown said the installation of thermostat controls would be wise, in the consumers’ interests.

Mr J. W. Colquhoun said the thermostat would be the consumer’s only safeguard. In reply to Mr W. A. Tate, Mr Brown said thermostats and sufficient meters were available to do the job. Mr Hugo said until the consumers were educated to switching off the water heating controls the board would be storing up a ton of trouble. Mr Brown observed that in the North Island 600 million units of electricity were used for water heating per annfim. It was a state of affairs that could not continue. CONSUMERS PENALISED. Mr Colquhoun said the board had done its best to get consumers to become all electric users and now they were being penalised. Mr Pearce said he could not see any alternative. Mr F. C. Daniell contended that the board had denied people with gas cookers electric heaters and had attracted away from the gas undertaking considerable business and now, having got the business, it jumped up the rate. Jt was the deliberate policy of the board. Water heating units that cost a penny had been sold for a farthing, which was undercutting. Mr Pearce said it rested with a consumer if the cost went up. He had the right to cut down. Mi’ Colquhoun said the new rate was a deliberate rise. Hot water heating consumers could not further reduce their services.

Mr Brown said they could not in winter but there was a great wastage in summer.

Mr Pearce said gas had nothing to do with the board. The position had come about owing to modern methods and a good service. The board had never gone out of its way to compete against the gas undertaking. Mr Daniell said in Masterton the gas undertaking was suffering from the competition of the power board.