ELECTRICITY CHARGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 192, 15 August 1922, Page 7

ELECTRICITY CHARGES.

AVv KLAXITK DIFFICTLTV. T'sers of electric current in Auckland arc not altogether satisfied with the charges, according to statements made at yesterday's meeting of the Power Bonrd by several of the members. At present thr Bonrtl ehnrgoa (id per unit or altornativelv <>n the "maximum demand sy.-tem" , at T : i'! ;uid 23d. Kor a purely domestic supply tlie i-liuriip is srl per] tin it for nil purposes during the twoj •winter quarters iind 3d i?cr unit for the two summer quarters. All these rates am subject to an addition of 10 per cent le-s f> per cent for o;;sli within J 4 days. D.irilis the past tliirteen years the charge for electricity in Auckland has been twico raised. The chairman of the Board (Mr. W. J. Holdswort'.l) said lie realised that the Board's system of charging might not be perfect, but they had to remember that the Board had been in the peculiar position of having to discourage certain n=ers -of current simply .because the Board was not in a position to supply it. The additions to plant, however, would recti fy that matter. The matter of the Auckland chaises hud bwii brought nn.lor the notice of Mr. Mutters, the Tas-β-anian export, who was reporting on the Auckland system in virw of the cominjr cliiingo over to hydro-clp'tricity. and it vrns'hope.l that lie would go into the que=tio:i fully. .Mr. Hyldsworth said ho; was surprisptl a! the small cliarpir in Tas-i m«nia uf Id per unit for radiators, lmt Mr. Butter- explained that by stating; fl'py bapjx'n (1 tn liavp plenty of spare nowr and it p:iid tliem to h>ll it at S'.ldl a very chonp r.i!e. Mr. Butters realised. however, that t!ie time would romp wllpn tliev would nnt lie abl- to sell it so cheaply. Mr. lloldsworth ment'onfi! this insi.ince t > sliow linw circumstances afTe-tpd ilillVrent boards. In Auckland fl "y had to discourage users of radiators lii-canw of a shortage of power. All that would I-o nrailually'altered, however, and tiivre wntild be ample current.