ELECTRIC CHARGES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 July 1924, Page 5

ELECTRIC CHARGES.

(To the Editor.) Sir,—l would like the Hawera County, Electric Company, through, the medium of your paper, to give reasons why one consumer .of electric energy should pay one price and another consumer of the same kind of energy pay another price, and why shopkeepers— who consume more energy on the average than the householder—should pay more per unit than the householder. We have in Hawera some consumers paying Bd, some 9d, and some lOd per unit tor lighting current. Other consumers are paying 4d, 6d, and 8d for current for electric irons. 1 would also like to know why the company reduce the price of current m hen one of their time switches is ntted, and M’hy cannot other shopkeepers enjoy the same benefit. Hawera is the only place where electnc kettles and irons are charged at lighting rates. Sir, i can see no argument why I should pay 10d and you 8d for the same ar rm' ' °* the same quality. Ihe charges for electrical energv in Hawera are the dearest in New ‘Zealand and most supply authorities are faced with the buying of coal for their " motive energy, while here in this disnct the power is derived from water. i think it is time for the Hawera Lounty Electric Co. to reduce their charges for electrical energy and to be consistent m their prices, and I am sine that people would use more energy it it were cheaper, which means the * company would benefit in the long run —I am, etc., 10d PER UNIT. We brought the above letter before the manager of the company (Air Lamb) and the engineer (Mr Evans), who in leply to our representative made the tollowmg comment upon the paragraphs in the correspondent’s letter:. 00 Ik is a question of supply and demand. The company has had to make a big outlay on machinery to carry one load for four hours on Saturday nights only. A graph placed before our representative . showed that the load is increased on a Saturday night by 125 kilowatts compared with the normal' load. That explained the charge to shopkeepers. (2) In reality the company’s prices range from 6d to 10d per unit, all less 10 per cent cash discount if paid within 14 davs.

(3) This is contrary to fact. The only consumer paying 4d is the public hospital. No other consumer is entitled to current for irons at less than lighting lates, and if there are consumers paying less they must be obtaining their supply by dishonest connections a \‘nr 110 k known to the company. (4) lime switches used every night tiring these consumers on the same footing as householders. The time switches clo belong to the company. (o) It is common practice ‘that any consuming device of less than 600 watts should go on lighting rates. (7) Government figures submitted to our representative showed that Hawera is not the dearest place for current; tor example Feilding, which is a municipal undertaking, and does not have to pay company taxation, rates and taxes, charges Is per unit for light and 4cl tor power. At Timaru the charge is lid tor light and 4,d for power. { conclusion, the manager stated? ‘I he Ha wera Company’s prices are based upon 20 years’ experience, and tile company claims that, having consideration for the demand and various factors which have to be taken into account, its charges compare /more than favourably with those of other supply authorities of the same canacity. Moreover, the company takes into consideration the industries of the district, and supplies power for dairy factories at 2d per unit net, ivhile milking machine plants are supplied with current at a lower rate than shown in any informaavailable from the power boards. The company has no intention of entering any newspaper controversy on this question, but any information required may be obtained from the manager at the office.”