Power Charges

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28397, 2 October 1957, Page 8

Power Charges

Sir, —In regard to power charge increases, a Government member in the House stated the average bill for power in a home was £1 4s 3d for one month, not two months, as reported of Mr Denford. I should think we were very economical to use only £1 4s 3d worth of power in one month. I would like to know how it is done in an average three bedrooms, lounge, and kitchen. The Government member speaking (August 25) stated that the increase would be one penny in 11 units. How do we reach a 50 per cent, increase, as Cr. Amos threatens. If the department must have more money in hand to meet new charges, as stated by Mr Denford, will it do so by such an increase? Many will make drastic economies, yet the department must raise money

irrespective of the power used. Will economies in power consumption help?—Yours, etc.,

INTERESTED. September 27, 1957. [The secretary of the Municipal Electricity Department (Mr J Denford) said that “Interested” had stated some of the difficulties that confronted the electricity committee. The Minister had said that the price of bulk power would rise to approximately £l7 a kilowatt a year. The M.E.D. at present paid £lO 18s a kilowatt a year, so that the increase would be £6 2s, or approximately 56 per cent. However, the position would be clarified next week at the power supply conference, and it would then be reported back to the electricity committee.]