MUNICIPAL LICHT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 12657, 10 January 1912, Page 8

MUNICIPAL LICHT.

A riUXIRESSIVE BUSINESS.

A progressive policy has been puruiud by tho Wellington City Electric !-.i;'iiting Department m catering for the ,-i:u!ic convenience m the matter of illuminants. The introduction )!' the metallic filament lamp, which naterially lessened, the cost of light for che consumer, gave a big impetus to the department's business, and by negotiating \vith its customers on easy terms, tho corporation lias popularised electricity m various directions, and there is now a steady and increasing demand for new connections. Up to the present the number of connections made since the beginning of the corporation year shows an increase of nearly 1200 — tho total being m the neighborhood of 6500. The amount of business transacted between the department and the general public, contrasted with the totals for the previous year, shows a solid increase of £3400 O'Jd. Here is the position at a glance :

it will thus be seen that although there has been a tremendous leap m the comparative figures as regards the number of units sold, the average revenue from each consumer shows a decrease of lis 6d, owing to the reduced cost of the current. But the credit balance tins year is £8734 14s sd, against £6086 -9s 9d for the previous year, as the following statement shows : —

1911. 1910. £ s. d. £ s. d. Power supply ... 3,639 15 1 3,300 610 Public lighting ... 4,212 10 6 4,124 1 8 Sundry revenue ... 160 12 11 190 14 6 Private lighting ... 29,677 3 9 26,616 10 11 Total revenue ... 37,690 2 3 34,231" 13 11 Generation expenses 9,439 9 9 9,473 711 Distribution expenses 3,198 18 11 3,000 13 2 Exhibition expenses 222 15 7 — General expenses ... 3,815 011 3,315 19 9 Total working expenses ... 16,676 5 2 15,790 010 Balance, being gross surplus brought down 21,013 17 1 18,441 13 1 37,690 2 3 34,231 13 11 Estimated capital charges — ■ Interest 5,332 18 0 4,997 88| Sinking fund ... 2,112 13 4 2,099 13 4 Depreciation ... 4,833 11 4 4,657 11 4 Total capital charges 12,279 2 8 11,754 13 4 Credit balance ... 8,734 14 5 6,086 19 9 It is interesting arithmetic, and should please the ratepayers. — Dominion.

1911. 1910. Units sold for private lighting 1,133,667 974,703 Units sold for power and heating 332,651 269,487 Units sold for public lighting 252,317 247,267 Number of lighting consumers 5,354 4,582 Number of power consumers 239 252 Number of heating consumers 626 230 Average revenue from each consumer £5/6/7 £5/18/1 Total working expenses per unit sold 2.33 -i 2.54 Total revenue per unit sold 5.26 5.51