LARGE AND SMALL CONSUMERS

Evening Post, Volume CXXI, Issue 104, 4 May 1936, Page 10

LARGE AND SMALL CONSUMERS

"Rate F." writes:—

The recently announced alterations in the charges for electricity have come as an unwelcome surprise to many of your readers.

Considering the vastly increased revenue of the board, surely the domestic consumer is entitled to more reasonable treatment than has been meted out to him. Though there are substantial reductions for the large commercial users, these are. being given at the expense of hundreds of small wage-earners. No one would deny, that these rates are; too . high, but notice the newscales:—

heating, his net account previously would have been. 12s 4d and his new account would be 11s lid. This shows the maximum saving to such a householder of 5d., i.e., 3£ per cent. Furthermore, every additional unit' consumed^ by the large business houses reduces their average cost per unit and increases their relative saving. It is.futile to point to the Wellington City Corporation rates, which would cost the domestic user little more than half the Hutt Valley rates, as the timehonoured argument about "scattered areas" would be brought up immediately. At the same time the Hutt Valley concession of the three-farthings a unit rate for units in excess of 564 in any one month is evidently intended to serve as a "red herring," for not many householders will receive comfort from the fact that their electricity account for a month -would have to reach the sum of £2 14s lOd (less 8 1-3 per cent.) without water-heating or other services before they can take advantage of this rate.

When interviewed about the impending changes in power charges the General Manager was reported as saying that it would "cost the board thousands of polnds." That is apparently in addition to what it costs the domestic consumer. Who is receiving the benefit of all these "thousands"?

... ■ . ■ New Business Rate, lighting— £ s. d. 40 units at'5d ....... 0 1G 3 244 units at 4d 4 1 0 Seating— 12 units at 21d 0 2 6 12 units at 2d 0 2 0 476 units at ijd 2 19 6 316 units at Id 1 6 4 £9 8 0 Discount 8 1-3 per cent. . 0 15 8 £8 12 4 The domestic rates are as follows:— Old Domestic Rate A—Lighting. £ s. d. 10 units at 6d ...:....... 0 5 0 Rate F—Cooking and Keating. 61 units at lid 0 7 7 0 12 7 Discount 17J per cent. .022 Net ...:.. 0 10 5 New Hates. First 16 units at 4Jd .. 0 6 0 Then 53 units at lid 0 6 11 71 units 0 12 11 Discount 0 1 0 0 11 11 Increase, Is 6d, or 15 per cent. II; the consumer used, say. 15 units tor lighting and 56 for cooking and