COST OF POWER SHORTAGE

Press, Volume LXXXIIi, Issue 25302, 30 September 1947, Page 5

COST OF POWER SHORTAGE

LOSS TO CITY COUNCIL

REBATES GIVEN ON TWO RATES

The estimated total cost to the Christchurch City Council of the power shortage in June and July, compared with last year, was approximately £10,668, which included a net loss of £BlB3 for revenue and power. In the two months the Municipal Electricity Department lost £12.300 in revenue and saved £4200 in cost of power, compared with last year. The 5 per cent, reduction oh bulk power charges given in the South Island for the second quarter of 1947 by the State Hydro-electric Department amounts to approximately £2400 in the case of the City Council

These figures' were given by the chairman of the electricity committee (Cr. F„ S Wilding) in a report received by the council at its meeting last evening. Cr. Wilding said that the committee had given careful consideration to the matter of possible rebates to consumers. The great bulk of consumers were automatically protected because the meter registered only what they consumed, and ths shortage Was a widely shared public calamity borne much more substantially by the supply authority than by any individual consumer.

“In all the circumstances the committee decided that the needs would be met by making a pro rata rebate on fixed rate water heating, and a 5 per cent, reduction for each of the two month on the high rate units of commercial and industrial lighting,’’ said Cr. Wilding “On this basis, the estimated total cost to the council of the shortage, by comparison with last year, is approximately £10,668. Rebates are £6OO for water heaters and £1034 for the commercial rates. “To this is to be added whatever might have been the lost growth of load and revenue for the two particular quarters, and for the remainder of the year so far as it will now be restricted. Any attempt at an exact adjustment for anything so inexact as the restrictions when spread over 44,000 consumers is impracticable. The committee believes that these recommendations are a fair attempt to meet the problem.” The report was adopted.