LIGHTING CHARGES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 147, 21 May 1930, Page 8

LIGHTING CHARGES.

REDUCTIONS IN HOROAVHENUA. The Horowhenua Power Board has decided to make substantial reductions in its lighting rates, these to operate as from the August readings. The concessions are in three classes —one is a direct reduction in the charge to the largest consumers, another is a 25 per cent, discount on the rate for the first 150 units per month (this applying to all lighting consumers), and the third is a reduction in the minimum charge. The action was taken as the result of a report by a special committee set up to consider estimates and any possible reduction in rates . The charges for the first 150 units and the second 150 units per month remain at 8d and 6d per unit respectively, but the rate tor all over_ 300 units per month is reduced from 5d to 4d per unit. After the first two bimonthly readings in the current financial year, the system of surcharging for late payment of electricity accounts will be abolished, and units used for lighting and charged at the 8d rate will be subject to discount of 2d per unit, provided that the total amount of the account is paid within 14 days of delivery ; all units used on any rate other than lighting at 8d per unit to be nett. . . Accounts entailing a minimum charge for lighting of 10s per bimonthly reading will be subject to a minimum discount of 2s 6d. The effect of this is that, if a consumer uses less than 15 units in two months, the minimum charge of 10s will be made, but the consumer will receive 2s 6d as discount for prompt payment irrespective of the number of units used under 15. This concession will reduce the minimum charge from 5s to 3s 9d per month. ... . - r •, , The chairman (Mr G. A. Monk) in moving the adoption of the recommendations stated that, taking the concessions into consideration, it was estimated that the board’s operations for 1930-31 would show a debit balance ff>3 With reference to the reducin’in' the charge for all over 300 units per month, the committee had felt that big consumers, like the Railway Department, were entitled to some concession in this direction and that the board could give them a fairly substantial one. The whole concessions would represent a reduction of £3500 in the lighting revenue for the full year, and this amount tv as more than the profit made last year; for the eight months the reduction was estimated at £2400. Air W E. Barber stated that in the Foxton area the concessions would be popular. Most of the consumers were using light, and the dairy farmers had already been given concessions.