CHARGES FOR POWER.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20829, 12 April 1933, Page 5

CHARGES FOR POWER.

REDUCTION WANTED, A strong plea for reductions in the charges of power consumption, particularly for electric ranges and milking machines, was made /by a deputation of consumers in the Levels district, which waited on the South Canterbury Electric Power Board yesterday. A largely-signed petition from consumers asking for a reduction was also before the Board. " Members of the board accorded the deputation a favourable hearing, and the chairman assured them that probably reductions in the vicinity of £3OOO would be made in various directions* ' Mr W. T. Ritchie, spokesman for the deputation, said that an effort should be made to lessen the burden on the consumers. Some consumers had already put their ranges out of commission and others were contemplating this step. Another ground where reduction could be made was the higher cost units. In many cases consumers wefe using electricity far in excess of their guarantees and he felt confident that those above their guarantees must more than make up for those who were below their guarantees. Quite a number of consumers were labouring under a disadvantage because of the minimum rate as economy below the rate was of no use. The speaker said that the Waitaki Power Board had made a reduction of 20 per cent, in its rate 12 months ago. If a reduction was not made, there would be a curtailment of consumers, and the larger consumers would have to carry the "baby" of the reduced income. Concession Made. The chairn>pn said that he was pleased that the deputation had come to assist the board. In June, 1932, when the question of a irebate in interest came forward, the board's hands, .were tifed, until they found out the actual amount forthcoming. They had proceeded to reduce the burden on small country, consumers by reducing the minimum lighting rate from; 7s 6d to ss. The position of falling Revenue since 1930, even with new' consumers coming on, had been aggravated arid they had - not been able to balance the budget. Waitaki had made the reduction on the basis of budgeting for a loss of £2OOO. The South Canterbury Board. had thought it wiser to balance the budget and then make concessions. The matter of guarantee lines was the crux of the whole question. Twenty-one consumers had disconnected ranges and the board coul,d not afford to have this going on and let the revalue slip. It had been proposed to tackle the high rate unit from another method, on the room basis. " Considerably the biggest portion of the consumers would benefit by that. This bad not been finalised as yet. There had been different suggestions, one being that the cooking charges for the first and second 50 units should be reduced and that'the balanqe should be brought down, to Id. Reduction Promised. The board had done its best under the circumstances, the chairman said, and he felt sure that they would be able to. give substantial reductions, roughly round about £3OOO. The-chair-man added that he would like to make a reduction over the whole scale of charges. If the charging oh a room basis was adopted it would ease the lighting position. Mr Ritchie said that it had been 4 generally agreed by those who signed the petition that first consideration should be given to power consumers, and those who were using ranges and milking machines.