Central Canty power to cost 4 p.c. more

Press, 19 February 1986, Page 2

Central Canty power to cost 4 p.c. more

Electricity consumers in the Central Canterbury Electric Power Board area will pay 4 per cent more for power from April 1.

The increase was challenged by the board’s Hornby representative, Mr Peter Lawson, at the board’s monthly meeting yesterday. He said the tariff should be reduced to 3.2 per cent as it was not necessary to build up funds for developments.

“We cannot ask them (the consumers) to put money aside for tomorrow,” he said. This was especially so, considering the board might soon amalgamate. In the light of the Christchurch City Council’s decision to reduce its

proposed 7 per cent increase to 5 per cent, Mr K. Ramsey said it seemed that another authority had also considered the amalgamation and it would be well to follow suit.

Mr Ramsey also said he found it difficult as a representative of the consumers not to agree with Mr Lawson’s proposal. “We have a very small, almost insignificant, margin of deduction on the original motion,” he said. “It seems absolutely ridiculous that we should quibble over 0.8 per cent.” 1

This was countered by the comment that it was not certain the board would amalgamate, therefore it would possibly need the funds for expan-

sion. When put to the vote, however, the 4 per cent increase was approved. Linework continued in the Waimakariri Basin area with only the section from Cass to Cora Lynn to be completed, the board was told. A request had been received from the Post Office to extend the supply beyond Cora Lynn to the Bealey Spur for a Post Office communications facility.

This would take the supply into an area where many residents had asked not to be connected to the public supply, but the board was obliged to provide it under the supply regulations because it had received a request from a consumer.