Power-cost rise in April

Press, 2 February 1982, Page 6

Power-cost rise in April

Electricity tariffs will increase by 11.5 per cent in Riccarton Borough from April 1. The Riccarton Borough Council’s electricity committee passed the increase in tariffs at its meeting yesterday. The increase is necessary to cover the 12 per cent increase in bulk supply charges to the council from New Zealand Electricity.

The price of uncontrolled domestic units will increase from 4.4 c to 4.9 c under the estimates approved by the committee. Controlled domestic units, such as hot water heating and night storage, will increase from 3.6 c to 4.1 c.

Uncontrolled commercial units will increase from 10.5 c to 11.8 c and controlled commercial units from 5.6 c for space heating and 3.6 e for

hot water heating to 6.5 c and 4.1 c respectively. The committee is budgeting for a $lO,OOO surplus in the electricity account next financial year. This financial year is expected to end with a deficit of $28,000. The increased tariffs are expected to bring in an additional $260,000 during the financial year. Another $45,000 is hoped to be raised through increased sales of electricity. The sales of electricity are expected to bring in $2,575,000 of the total income of $2,695,000.

The bulk electricity is expected to cost $1,830,000 with administration, maintenance, and capital works bringing the total expenditure to $2,685,000. The deposit bond for the supply of electricity will increase $lO to $5O.