BIG SAVING

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20067, 26 March 1935, Page 6

BIG SAVING

ELECTRICITY CHARGES REDUCED DECISION OF COUNCIL Proposals embodying an annual saving of £4700 to the users of electricity in the borough, were contained in a report by the electrical engineer (Mr E. A. Watkins) which was presented to a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last night, and which was unanimously adopted. Engineer’s Report The engineer’s report stated:— “As instructed by the Committee, I place before you suggestions showing the manner in which the electricity rates may be reduced to the consumers. My instructions were to show a saving to the commercial consumers only of £3,100. The second proposal shows this saving, with an aditional saving of £1,650 to the domestic consumers, making a total saving to the consumers of £4,700. I would suggest that it would appear better if the whole of the savings are made public at the one time. “My thanks are due to the meter readers, and Mr Parker for the tremendous amount of detailed work made necessary to arrive at the exact amount of the saving. Over nine hundred accounts were worked out individually so that the figures submitted to the Council would be correct. In making this reduction known to the public, I would suggest that it come into operation from April I—this would mean that the consumers would receive it with the first meter reading in May.” Domestic Tariff The second proposal of the engineer, which eventually was adopted, was: 4 rooms and less, 6 units at 5d per unit, balance at Id a unit; 5 rooms and less 8 at sd, balance at Id a unit; 6 rooms and less 10 at sd, balance at Id a unit; 7 rooms and less, 12 at sd, balance at Id a unit; 8 rooms and less, 14 at sd, balance at Id a unit; 9 rooms and less, 16 at sd, balance at Id a unit; 10 rooms and over, 18 at sd, balance at Id a unit; minimum 2/6 a month; water heating 0.3 d per unit; saving to consumers, £1,600. Commercial Tariff The proposal adopted was: Lighting and heating: (a) 4d per unit; (b) 4d per unit of k.w. of m.d. per month x 50; 2d. per unit of k.w. of m.d. per month x 50; Id per unit for balance. Minimum 2/6 per month. Saving to consumers £ISOO. Community lighting One 200 watt lamp £3 6s per annum each; two 200 watt lamps £3 4s per annum each; three 200 watt lamps £3 2s per annum each; four 200 watt lamps £3 per annum each; five 200 watt lamps £2 16s per annum each. Saving to consumers £SO. Power—2d per unit per h.p. name plate rating per month x 50; Jd per unit for balance. Note—Consumers who install synchronous motors will be rated on k.w. of m.d. per month. Minimum 2/6 per h.p. per month. Saving to consumers £ISOO. Council Discussion When the report came before the Council early in the meeting, Cr. G. Benstead said he had not read the report, and he was not prepared to discuss it that night. The Mayor: We must do something before April 1. Cr. Benstead said that he was not going to vote for a pig in a poke. He wanted to know what he was voting for. The Mayor: You will be voting for a reduction of £4700. Cr. P. C. Vinnell said that he felt somewhat like Cr. Benstead. He did not want to stop anything being done, because he felt that the proposition would be an effective reply to the Power Board, and would at least give the public something to congratulate the Council on. However, the matter was an important one, and one on which they should be able to give an intelligent vote. It was not a question of giving £4700, but a question of details, and no one could do justice to the thing in one night. It was not a question of holding the matter up, but of knowing what he was doing.

The Mayor said that he did not want to push anything on to any councillor, but they had a saving of more than £3OOO in interest on the electricity loan, and they were anxious to bring that into operation immediately. The matter had been referred back to the engineer for a final report, and the committee recommended the adoption of his later proposals, which included further reductions. Cr. P. B. Foote said that they had either to put the proposals through that night or give a month’s notice. Cr. J. R. Hart said that the matter had been very fully considered by the committee, but if further information was needed, it might be better to hold the matter over.

Cr. Benstead; Might I ask the chairman of the Electricity Committee if this is a death bed repentance. No one but the Electricity Committee had any knowledge of what the report contained.

The Mayor said that the idea was to save time, and give consumers the benefit of the reductions. After further discussion, it was agreed to ask the engineer to attend later in the meeting. When the matter again came up for discussion, the report was explained by the town clerk. Cr. Foote pointed out that there had been a definite saving of £3150 in interest and sinking fund on the electricity loan, and that was a certain saving. In so far as the domestic consumers were concerned, he had to object to the proposal on the basis that the profit was only an estimated one, and as a matter of principle the Council would be unwise to deal with it until the balance-sheet was issued. Cr. Vinnell said that he agreed that the argument advanced by Cr. Foote was sound. In fact, it was irrefutable. He did not think they were justified in carrying the proposals at the moment. In his opinion, greater reductions than those proposed could be given, because in the past they had transferred profits from the trading department to the general fund.

The Mayor again asserted that unless they passed the recommendations that night consumers would have to wait two months to benefit by the reductions.

Cr. Hart then moved, and Cr. Mathers seconded: “That the second proposals in the electrical engineer’s report of March 25 be adopted by the Council, thus making a total estimated annual saving to the consumers of £4700.” As an amendment, Cr. Vinnell moved and Cr. Foster seconded: “That this Council approves of the Electricity Committee’s proposals for a general reduction in charges, but is of the opinion that the matter of fixing the various charges should be deferred until the balance-sheet of the -department for the financial year is ascertained.”

The amendment was defeated by eight votes to two, and the motion was carried unanimously.