MINIMUM CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY.

Otaki Mail, 29 August 1930, Page 1

MINIMUM CHARGES FOR ELECTRICITY.

HOW HOROWHENUA COMPARES WITH GEASGOW.

A comparison between minimum charges for electricity was made at the Horowhenua Power Board's inoetng on Tuesday, by Mr T. G. Vincent, who read an extract from a Home paper showing that the primary. rate (otherwise the minimum) in Glasgow was 30s per annum. Ho pointed out that this was 2s (id a month, and, when the huge population of Glasgow was taken into consideration, the minimum of 3s 9d a month charged in the Horowhenua Board's district, where the population was relatively scattered, compared very favourably with it. The extract, which was from the Glasgow Herald, was as follows:—"A complaint regarding the primary electricity rate demands of Glasgow Corporation was submitted at* a meeting of the Home Affairs Committee of.' the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce recently, when it was stated that in the scale of charges for r l'J29-30;the primary rate was based oi a maximum 'demand of 000 hours .use! ,'per annum for lighting with a minimum of 00 units, which meant thut 30s in value must be consumed or paid for. In final accounts rendered for 1929-30 a great number of small consumers note asked to pay for 80s of curreit whether or not it had been consumed.

In reply to a letter the manager of the Electricity Department of the Corporation stated that the Corporation ■nx-io authorised by statute to charge a minimum bill of 53s 4d per annum for any number of units up to SO units per annum, whether or not any consumption of electricity was recorded on the meter. , This minimum charge was imposed to coyer expenses incurred by the Corporation in giving :i supply of electricity to a consumer. The Electricity Committee, however, in view of the number of consumers consuming only ,-i i'e«- units per annum and the

consequent loss incurred in giving supplies to tliese consumers, which loss was being met by other users of eleetricil v, found it necessary to institute a minimum eharge, which was (Ixed at 30s. It was pointed out that this figure was a very moderate one and did not fully cover the expenditure incurred by the Corporation. After consideration the committee resolved that, in their opinion the charge in question was a reasonable one."