DEPARTMENT'S REPLY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1925, Page 5

DEPARTMENT'S REPLY

ARGUMENTS NOT SOUND.

"Complaints »s to electric light tccounts are by no means peculiar - to-,

flperating^-'Mjd'Mr. Lauchlan. ■"Coraplaints have been received from many different parts of Wellington, and the reason for the increased consumption of -power is not far to seek. In June, 1924, .Wellington had 118 hours of sunshine, while inithe corresponding month of this year we only enjoyed 76 hours. In July and August there was also a marked absence of sunshine as compared with the previous year. This naturally means that more artificial light was used, which naturally brought about heavier ac- : counts, not alone in ehanged-over dis-, ' tricts, but .through the whole, of the city and suburbs. Tests have been carried i out: to ascertain what the actual increases have been, and, curicusly enough, the; average increase in the changed-over districts, Sea- • toun, Evans Bay, and Lyall Bay,have worked out at 8.3 per Bent., while the areas under the old voltage test- • ed, parts of Newtown, Oriental Bay, and Karori, the increase has been 11 per : cent.' Another factor which has undoubtedly affected accounts to individual consumers is that when the ■ ' change-over work- was in . progress ' many- householders- went in foT lights of higher; candle .power, others had additional lights installed, and many called for ;extra hot; points. That has been our general experience in , change-overwork. V. With regard to the statement made by the deputation regarding the marked •:•' fluctuation of. power on 9th September, Mr. Lauchlan pointed out that on that occasion/trouble with the Mangahao pSwer arose, and the load had to be switched,on to*.the council's plant. A change;, in the supply naturally brought about a great ■ variation in power, and Boni'e-'allowance had to be made for an occurrence of that sort.:' "v ■,'■'■.■■ , > "There is no .undue variation',in the voltage during ■ the; hours when light is required," he said. "Variations practically all take place during the day,- and do n'pt therefore affect the meter. It is impossible to keep 'a steady vollage under alternating light and . heavy .loads, but we are keeping within the limit of variation laid down by the, Government. -The variations at present experienced are. not altering the consumers' accounts to any appreciable extent.... Another rather remarkable' fact is that many of the accounts over which complaints, have arisen are actually less tha-n they were at the Bamo period in ■ . 1924. .; .■ . .• :/- .' . .-.. ..•••■ ACCOUNTS ACTUALLY SMALLER "As a ma,tter of fact," continued Mr. Lauehlan, ''that is "precisely the position with Mr. Bacon's accounts.We. keep records in this office, and •v these' show that, with the exception, of one period,, the readings.of his mejer have been 'lower under, the >230 volt : system than they were before the change-over for corresponding . periods of ; the year.'.' .••; The following figures were supplied to; bear that contention but:-r- ------..'. ••'•■.'-.■ ';. ■' ''• ■■■■■'' '■■ '.-. ■ "..' .'■ Units '•: Heading taken. '••••' per day; April, 1924—58 units, STdays -.;...... 1.02 ...■April, 1925—59. units, 51 days ....;. 0.96 -Juno, 1924—91 vuflts, 68 days ........ 1.34 June, 1025-rrls4..units, 105. days ..;•.. 1.67 August; 1924—149 units, 59 days, .... 2.53 - August, 1925—123 units, 62 days .... 1.98 October, 1924—100 units, 60-days :....'',1.67 September, 1925—28 units,'2l days ... - 1.31 ■* The majority of i'the complaints, added Mr; Lauehlan, were from ■mall consumers. One, for instance, was from a lady, who objected to paying 7s 6d' per month /for lighting and heating,' 1 and another from a gentleman who. considered _ an account for 15s' 8"i-;for_;'two months absolutely qutragebuß. "■'• '■"■''■'] V: SOME GLOBES ARE FAULTY ' Xl admit that we haye"' ; had com-r; plaints about light globes having burnt, out or blown out after.only.a short period'<oif' service. There Js always a possibility of faulty globes being.included in ,any shipment coming■to* hand;, we realise that, and the makers ■ realise it, -but they are willing to. stand behind their globes and lamps ■which give but before reasonable service has,been had of them vvvill. be replaced;" , ,Mr.,.^Lauchlan concluded by pointing r out tha^ the council had a huge under- • taking in its hands, and it was only natural that some slight troubles should arise during' ' the period ;of "change over." ;.They, were idesirous: of giving ,■ every possible satisfaction, but the public shonld make some; allowance for the' trouble's "involved in. readjusting such a big proposition. -