THAMES POWER BOARD EXPERIENCES SWINDLES.

Otaki Mail, 29 August 1930, Page 1

THAMES POWER BOARD EXPERIENCES SWINDLES.

ABUSE OF FLAT-BATE CHARGES

! The Thames Valley Electric Power Board recently installed meters in its district. Previously it had charged its couutrv consumers on the flat rate system, but it was found that the wasteful consumer was penalising the economical one. Just how waste occurred was described in a report submitted to the board by its engineer, Mr N. G. McCleod. The excessive use of electricity, said the engineer, occurred chiefly on the domestic side. The charge for a 000watt utility point was £3 per annum,and for a 1200-watt point £6 per annum. For this charge a consumer was allowed to use a kettle, iron, toaster, vacuum cleaner, grill, etc., up to 000 or 1200 watts respectively. All this apparatus was looked upon as likely to be used for a comparatively short time each day, if operated with ordinary "care. If a radiator was used, an additional 30s per annum -was. asked. "Some consumers actually never turned off their 1200-watt grills at all, except in the heat of summer. In the colder weather they were used as radiators, being on continuously, and they did not even pay the additional 30s per annum required for radiator supply. Many of them obtained all their domestic hot water as well as cooking from the grill; others used their electric ranges for a similar purpose, as well as using them for radiators, leaving the oven door open to obtain the advantage of the ovon element. Many there were who paid £3 per annum for a 600-watt point and who stowed away their 1200 watt grills or 2-k.w. radiators when the party-line telephone rang to say that.the board's inspector was in the district.

''With lighting similar abuses occurred. Some used to leave their lights on all night; others used to switch on all the lights in the house siud leave them on until they went to bed. Some purposely left their lights on when they went out for the evening, in order that undesirables.might be kept away. In at least one ease the whole family was absent on six weeks' holiday, and the lights were deliberately left" on all the time for the same reason.

"Many cases were discovered where irons, grills, etc., were operated from the lighting sockets, ordinary bayonetplug adaptors being used. In this way they obtained for a few shillings, or for nothing, a serviee for which the standard eharge was £3 or £O. "There were abuses in the use of milking plant supplies also. Some very bare-faced and deliberate swindles were attempted. The charges for supply to milking motors were ou a butter-fat basis; £ls for the first 50001 b. of but-ter-fat per annum for a 2 h.p. motor, plus one-third of a penny for each pound of butter-fat in excess of 50001 b. per annum. Practically every shed is equipped with'an electric water heater, and these are usually on a change-over switch with the- motor. Conslfhiers were allowed to pump all the water they required for their herds and for the shed for the inclusive butter-fat charge. "It was thought that, with the water heater on the change-over switch, there was sufficient protection against abuse of the pumping concession, but cases were found of the change-over switch being bridged to allow the water heater to be ou continuously, and for pumping, including irrigation, to be carried on all the time the milking plant was not in operation. In at least one case it is kuown that the milking motor was arranged to drive a drainage pump to dewater the land in flood time, and to irrigate the land, as well as water the otock, in dry weather, all at the charge of milking. "It is carious the mentality of some «people, and it is regrettable that the number is not as few as could be wished—people who are looked upon as souls of honour by their neighbours and friends, and who would, without liesi- . tation, send to prison a tramp who stole a loaf of bread from their back-doors, or a shilling from their purses, but who think nothing themselves of robbing a public authority of pounds if they can do it without getting caught. The same thing has been remarked frequently before, but it will do no harm to repeat I'iti:

"It must' not be thought," added the engineer, "that the mind of the average consumer in the' board's area is indicated by the instances of abuse above mentioned. It is pleasing to record that the number who deliberately attempted to defraud the board was «j»ijr a small percentage. The other cases of abuse were due either to ignorance or to a belief that they were obtaining no more than that to which they were entitled."