COST OF ELECTRIC CURRENT

New Zealand Times, Volume XLII, Issue 9629, 9 April 1917, Page 6

COST OF ELECTRIC CURRENT

To the Editor "N.Z. Times.' Sir,—l noticed some lime ago that Mr Gunson, Mayor of Auckland, stated that electricity was being supplied to tho public of Auckland at a lower rate than in Christchurch, although the current was obtained in Auckland by means of steam engines, while in Chris!chnret! tho Lake Coleridge supply was available. Can you say what are the rates in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch, and what a consumer using, say, 50 units per month would pay in each city.- I am, eto ” ' RATEPAYER.

[Tho question of electrical tariffs is rather complex, and ou account of the different vsyetems ol changing in the various cuntivs it is not oasy to make comparisons, in this city the system adopted is that known as th© flat rate with a sliding scale, th© maximum net price for lighting being 6d per unit with a sliding scab? m proportion to the amount of current used to 3d per unit. Current for power purposes is supplied on the same basis, the sliding seal© b?v ing from 2id per unit down to lid per unA. Current for heating purposes is supplied at a flat rate of lid per unit. Lx Dunedin. Christchurch, and Auckland the system adopted is known as the maximum demand systepi. Consumers there have the- option of coming m under a flat rate tariff, or under tho maximum demand system. Under the maxi mum demand system it qs possible for two consumers to be using the same amount of current and yet be paying different amounts for the service, ihe determining factor is the rate which the current is taken: this is recorded on an instrument known as a maximum demand indicator. In Auckland tho lighting rate is s(d per-unit as a ‘flat rate or alternatively a maximum demand rate of 7d and 3d. In CxiiisG olnuch the lighting flat rate is 5 per unit with an alternative maximum demand rate ol 6d per unit for all current in excess of maximum demand period. For the reason stated it is unfair to make comparisons unless a number, of similar sized installations were taken and an average arrived at. In Wellington a consumer using 50 .units for lighting purposes knoll's tiiat he has tq pay 25 per cent, net; under the maximum demand he might have to pay more or less in accordance with the rate at whichtho current is used. The statement of Mr Gunson. Mayor of Auckland,' was made evidently with a view of showing that an , up-to-date steam plant can compete with a hydro plant. In the absence of a balance-sheet and othe,r data showing how the relative figures are arrived at’ it is impossible to discuss the question further than to state that under certain conditions electricity can be supplied from a hydro-electrical plant at a much cheaper rate than ib ■possible with any steam plant.—Ld., "N.Z.T."!