USE ENCOURAGED BY LOW CHARGES

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 195, 15 May 1936, Page 6

USE ENCOURAGED BY LOW CHARGES

Many Domestic Appliances However much progress may be made in placing electric power at the disposal of the public, it stands to reason that subsequent development in the use of the electricity will depend to a large extent upon the rates charged for its consumption. If a housekeeper has to pay a price greater than that of other facility for lighting or other fuel for heating, she will not buy an electric range, nor an electric iron, nor an electric toaster, kettle, heater, or hot-water jug. If the housekeeper docs not believe buying these articles will cheapen her cost of living, firms making or distributing them will be unable to extend the horizon of their selling activities. Both the user and the manufacturer of electric equipment are irrevocably bound to the consumption prices charged, by the supplier of the.electricity. In Wellington, firms dealing in electrical goods are realising this, and more and more co-operation is being developed between them and the Electricity Department of the Wellington City Council. These firms, however, if the extension of their business does depend upon the price of power to the consumer, arc in the happy position of being in a territory where the electricity rates arc lower than anywhere else in New Zealand. From the beginning of this month a scale of charges has been introduced which makes electricity wonderfully cheap. In another way, these firms have reason to be optimistic of the future of their operations. As a city, Wellington, docs not know the use of an electric range. Recently at a meeting of the City Council the Mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, gave a councillor' an assurance that the Electricity Department was keeping the possible development in the use of electric ranges' in view in the formulation of its policy. . From May 1 of this year the Electricity Department has been giving householders the benefit of a very reasonable domestic tariff. When Wellington introduced electricity for lighting purposes, there was no other city south of the line with a similar service; now it is supplied with power at rates cheaper than those offered to householders anywhere else in New Zealand. The department has made a point of encouraging domestic, use of electricity; since the new tariff was introduced results indicate that the policy is to be amply justified.