POWER BOARD CHARGES

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6889, 20 April 1929, Page 3

POWER BOARD CHARGES

MR. J. S. TINGEY EXPLAINS. To tho Editor. Sir, —There seems to bo some misunderstanding concerning the recent alterations made in its tariff by the Manawatu-Oroua Electric Power Board. In August, 1927, I moved a reduction in tho tariff (setting out details). As a previous motion was on the books it was held over until the end of the financial year. However in December, 1927, the new Electric Power Board Act came into force compelling power boards to pay annually certain fixed sums for depreciation. Our amount was ascertained to be £4OOO for the year and so when the reductions were considered in June, 1928, 10 was found impossible to reduce tno charge. This paying of money for depreciation did not then apply to boroughs, but they are now compelled to toe the line this year commencing The circular dated March 21, recently sent to all consumers by the board explains the reasons for the recent alterations. Tho main difference in our tariff for householders is the extra Is per month charged for water heaters and the fact that in a few months time. clocks will be attached to automatically cut off the current from tho water heaters for one hour in the forenoon and perhaps one and a-half hours in tho afternoon. In most cases the loss of heat will not be so great as anticipated by the householder. For example under ordinary circumstances in houses in a 25 gallon hot water tank with' a 500 watt element, assuming the water is boiling at 11 a.m., with current cut off till noon, and no water used, the water will lose from 24 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. If ten gallons of boiling water bo drawn off at eleven, current off, the temperature at noon will bo 150 and if current had been left on 159. If the tank is emptied at 11 o’clock, current cut off an hour, the temperature at 3 p.m. would be 84, if current had- been left on 92. Temperatures given aro approximate. To sum up many householders would not notice unless told the difference. Our ‘engineer reported recently the serious financial position wc were getting into if we made no alteration in our tariff and methods, c.g. we were selling current for water heaters below cost, it is still a little below. I do not desiro a rato to be struck to make up our losses. How would householders like in addition to paying their electrical accounts to receive a bill at the end of the year for rates and to know many farmers and others would have to pay rates who did not use electricity. I therefore moved the adoption of the engineer’s two reports. The report on power charges was unanimously adopted, that on water heaters had only one objector, Mr. Small, who is a member of the Dairy Farmers’ Union committee, who naturally did not want water heaters touched. Our charges for water heaters are still amongst the lowest in New Zealand. Wanganui, New Plymouth, Auckland, Wellington, Gisborne, Dannevirke and Palmerston North all have time switches . In this respect Palmerston North is worse off than wo are. Directly a householder switches on his kitchen or living room lights tho current is automatically cut off his water-heater for as 'long as his lights arc on.

Mr. Guy and I and a great many other people do not like Palmerston North having three representatives on the board under the present circumstances. That can only bo altered by legislation. I have already taken part in making representations to the Gov-

ernment on the matter and will do sa again. But as I have publicly stated before, the Palmerston North do not dominate the board. Mr. Guy asks why was I “the one to move that Mr. Nash be chairman” at the last annual meeting. X did not move it; Sir James Wilson did, and I seconded. Mr. Nash had done good work as chairman and out of courtesy I jeconded. Palmerston North has had a good year financially. The most remunerative part of the revenue is that from lighting. Palmerston North’s is very heavy. The number of their motors is much less 'than ours. Our lighting load has increased little, our motor much more in proportion, our water heaters and ranges, (the least remunerative part) much more still in proportion. Palmerston North is- a compact populous borough and.,,cannot fairly be compared with our thinly populated country districts containing many hundreds of miles of lines with therefore greatly increased maintenance costs. —I am, etc., J. S. TINGEY.