RATES RAISED FOR POWER BOARD SUPPLY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6857, 12 March 1929, Page 8

RATES RAISED FOR POWER BOARD SUPPLY

Commencing April 1

WATER HEATERS AND MOTORS PAY MORE

On April 1, the rates charged by the Manawatu-Oroua Power board for electricity supplied for water heating and for certain industrial motors are to be raised.

This decision was reached at yesterday’s meeting of tho board, following a report by the chief engineer, Mr. W. A. Waters, recommending an increase in the tariff. At the previous meeting, tbe board discussed fully water heaters, and held over its decision until tho question of industrial motors had been reported upon. The board also decided to purchase 500 British time switches at a cost of £3222 18s 4d to be fitted to residential water heaters. The clocks are so designed that heating power will be automatically cut out between 11 and 12 noon, which is the period of the midday peak load and also in the mornings and evenings at the time when the milking maehine load comes on. The charges to be made are as follow:—While tho system of control of the cowshed heater is uot to bo altered, the rate is to bo increased from £4 10s to £5 8s a year. Time switches are to be installed on all household heaters and the annual charge is to be £5 Bs, as against £4 16s at present. As a further means of preventing the costs of running the power scheme from rising faster than tho revenue, the board decided to increase tbe minimum charge for small industrial motors as follow: —

Where separately metered when no other method of metering is available, the minimum to be increased to £2 per annum up to § h.p. motor, and existing power rates for units used. Where a consumer installs fractional horse power motor, where a poly-phasc meter is available, supply to be run through the poly-phase meter, -with no extra minimum charges, which in the ease of milking motor is already fixed. Where separato meter is insisted on, where existing poly-phase meter is available, a £3 minimum on tho new meter per annum. Where motor is run through lighting meter, no alteration. Where run through existing splitcoil or heating meter, a flat rate of £1 in addition to units metered.

Where a consumer's installation can be extended, but consumer insists on separate service, full cost of such service will be charged from road. The question of motors used in flaxmills and stone crushers was discussed and it was decided that the engineer interview the parties concerned in an endeavour to arrange that the working hours of the plants be adjusted, so that no power would be used at a time when there was a likelihood of tho board’s peak load being increased. The minimum charge for shearing motors was fixed at £2 10s per annum.