CANADIAN HYDRO POWER.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 30 September 1924, Page 9

CANADIAN HYDRO POWER.

REDUCTION IN ELECTRIC LIGHT RATES. Electric ligthing rates in Canada are now 20 per cent lower than the average rates prevailing in 1913, though the general level of prices is 56’ per cent higher, states the Montreal correspondent of the Christian " Science Montitor. Since. 1900 the cost of electrical energy hag fallen continuously, even the distortions of value due to the war failing to arrest the almost steady decline. To obtain this result Canada has made a irather spectacular development of her water power resources. In 1900 Canada’s hydro-electrical installations produced 150,000 horse-power. Now they represent an investment of 687,000,000 dollars,, and produce about 3,400,000. horse-power, equal to nearly 50,000,000 tons of coal a year. About 726,000 hydro horse-power is used by the pulp and paper-making industries. New installations being made will produce another 500,000 horse-power bv next year. Of all the mechanical power now used in Canada for all purposes, except operating the steam railways, motor cars, and lorries; 70 per cent is derived from water power and 30 percent from fuel. As the water power development is chiefly in Ontario and Quebec, which have 'no coal mines, the relief given to the fuel situation is apparent. It will not he long before practically all the industries of the eerjtral provinces use hydro energy as motive power, limiting the fuel ‘problem to one of heating, in winter. The index numbers of lighting, rates, compiled on the base, rate of 100 for 1913, stood at the .beginning of the year: All Canada, 79.5; Quebec, 62.0; Ontario, 60.9; New Brunswick; 88.9; British Columbia, 74.8: Since these figures were issued the, Montreal Light and Power Company has made a substantia] reduction in its rates.