DEAR ELECTRICITY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 26 November 1942, Page 4

DEAR ELECTRICITY

NELSON’S GREAT HANDICAP | WHAT OFFICIAL FIGURES REVEAL ! NOT CONNECTED TO GOVERNMENT SUPPLY j That the average price of clccJ tricity in Nelson eity was, in 1940, j more than twice as high as in any other New Zealand borough or city with a population of over 7000 is an arresting fact revealed by an analysis of Government returns. The figure compares very unfavourably with similar places which arc connected with the national liydro-electricity system. Consumers in Nelson paid an average of 3.54 id a unit, in the Waimea Power Board area 1.914 d (this has increased to 2.6 d in the latest return), 1.303 d in GoP’cn Bay. L9sd in Marlborough, i and 2.69 din Westport. In areas whose make-up is somewhat akin to Nelson's, but who are joined to the power grids corresponding consumer prices were (in pence): Timaru, 1.243; Napier, 1.060: Hamilton, 1.159; Waitomo Power Board. .940: Te Awamulu Power Board, .894; South Taranaki. 1.093. The Dominion average for that year (and there has been little variation since) lor the three different classes of supply authority were (per unit): Cities, .934 d. Boroughs-- 1 139 d.

Power Boards, .974 d. These returns also confirm the anticipated relation between price and demand. The cheaper the current, the more each consumer uses until a certain limit is reached. The dearer the current the less used. Many supply authorities, who receive bulk power from the Government at a fixed rate, have built up their loads and their revenue by progressive price decreases, thus showing that the demand for electricity varies almost in direct ratio to its price—and of course its availability. In Nelson city, for .example, where the price is so high, units used annually by each consumer were only 688; in Waimea 1210; in Golden Bay 2260; in Marlborough 1477. In cheap power areas on the other hand there was a big jump in units used per consumer: 4031 in Waitomo; 4566 in Te Awamutu, and 3031 in South Taranaki. People in these areas enjoy the advantages of electric ranges and electric water-heaters, a load which is practically non-existent in Nelson city and not heavy in Waimea and Golden Bay. Dominion averages of units per consumer in the’three classes of supply areas are: Cities 2396. Boroughs 2193. Power Boards 3074. These figures show clearly how the city of Nelson especially, and Waimea, Golden Bay and Marlborough to a lesser extent, are being denied many of the advantages of the great boon, electricity, through not being able to participate in a Government supply. Nelson city generates most of its own power from a steam plant, and Waimea, Golden Bay and Marlborough from small hydro and stand-by plants. Whe n the Cobb comes into operation a Government bulk supply will be available ultimately for ail these areas at Government standard price to the supply authorities.