Notice of power charge increase

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32462, 24 November 1970, Page 14

Notice of power charge increase

The Central Canterbury Electric Power Board has increased its charges for accounts read after March 30, and says it is not expected that there will be any alternation for charges on electricity used before January 18.

The increase was approved recently when a special meeting adopted a new schedule of tariffs. When they are adjusted by a true discount of 10 per cent there will be an increased revenue of approximately 17 per cent, according to the chairman (Mr L. F. Chamberlain). On an average domestic account of $2O, for two months, the increase would be less than 6c a day, Mr Chamberlain said.

Before it fixed the charges the board considered the future finances in the light of heavy increases in costs which had applied for only part of the present financial year.

By pruning expenditure and reducing the works programme the board had been able to hold charges, Mr Chamberlain said. .The stage had been reached when costs had outstripped possible sav-

ings and increased revenue was needed. The last increases had been in December, 1967, when the board passed on increases for bulk purchases, and in July, 1966, when an increase of approximately 12 per cent of revenue had been met. Before then there had been no significant increase in major tariffs since April, 1958.

From 1959 to 1970 the board’s revenue per kwh sold had increased by 21 per cent, Mr Chamberlain said. The cost of energy bought had increased by 34 per cent and the average rate of wages had risen by 105 per cent.