ELECTRICITY CHARGES

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28128, 17 November 1956, Page 3

ELECTRICITY CHARGES

Sir, —It is time the M.E.D. looked into its power charges in the interests of justice. Many take power from a dwelling at Id a unit while other legitimate commercial users pay 6d for most of theii* light units and IJd for most of their power. If there was a flat rate for everything justice would apply and wiring become less complicated. Why does not the supply authority want this justice and simplification of wiring?—Yours, etc.. USER. November 13, 1956.

[The secretary of the Municipal Electricity Department (Mr J. Denford) commented as follows on this letter: “The very small surplus on the normal annual accounts indicates that electricity is being retailed at the lowest possible price over all services. If the price were unduly raised against some services, e.g., water heating and domestic heating, electricity would be priced out of the market by its competitors, coal, gas, and kerosene. If these sales were lost, the price of electricity to other services would have to be raised. The differentiation of prices for various services has been well and long established and is in the best interests of all. There is no inherent injustice, as a consumer can always turn to an alternative competitor. probably at a higher cost, and inconvenience.”]