Power bill for hospital nearly cost penalty

Press, 11 October 1985, Page 5

Power bill for hospital nearly cost penalty

A “weakness” in the Canterbury Hospital Board’s system of paying accounts almost cost $lB,OOO when recent electricity bills were paid after the due date.

The Princess Margaret Hospital’s electricity accounts in June and August incurred a penalty charge of $9725 and $9003 — 10 per cent of the total bills.

The Canterbury Hospital Board’s chief engineer, Mr B. E. Walker, 1 wrote to the Heathcote County Council outlining reasons for the delay in payments. He said there was a weakness in its system which had caused delays in approving in-

voices. The system had since been improved and he asked the council to look sympathetically at the board’s case.

The council’s electricity committee decided yesterday to remit the “oncharge” money to the board. However, interest that would have been earned on the money and overdraft interest charged to - the council for late payments to the electricity division of the Ministry of Energy would be deducted. It also decided to advise the Hospital Board that the council might not be prepared to repeat the gesture.

Power bills

The introduction of monthly billing of Heathcote residents’ electricity accounts was discussed at the meeting. It was suggested that monthly billing would make family budgeting easier and provide a better cash flow for the council.

Several councillors did not agree with the suggestion because the Lyttelton Borough Council was deciding to revert from monthly billing to two-monthly bill-

ing. It was decided to refer the matter to the Port Hills Energy Authority joint committee.