COST OF ELECTRICITY.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19800, 18 November 1919, Page 5

COST OF ELECTRICITY.

■ INCREASED CHARGES DISCUSSED. The proposal* of the City Electricity Committee to raise substantially the rates tor power in respect to certain types of motors v.ere discussed again in the City Council last night, when the report eaine r._ for ede-c; Councillor A. M'lve.... : mat the proposal was intended to obtain efficiency and get more eurrent for sale. If it was found that the new rates were bringing in disproportionate profits they could be readjusted, for the council did not want to profiteer power users. Users should not instal power beyond the requirements of their business lor years to come. Those who had efficient motors would not suffer. Councillor C. I‘. Agar moved that the clause should be relerred bade, hie said he had yet to he convinced of tiie necessity for any increase in rates. The council's average price for current last year was 1-odd and after paying back all the money mised for the plant, etc., there was a substantial balance and the council was putting by a depreciation reserve of £14,000 or LT-3,000, whereas £BOOO would be adequate. It meant that at the end of a period of years they would have a plant as good as new, and all loans paid off. To double the charges for heating shops and offices was not fair, la any case the department should be run, not for profit, but for the provision of the cheapest electricity possible. The engineer knew quite well that up motor would give 100 per cent of efficiency, and the proposal was a cloak for increasing the charges. . Councillor H. F. Herbert said that the council had waited until its loan proposals were approved, and then turned round and increased the charges,

He believed that proper motors should be installed to measure the waste, if any. Councillor H. Hunter said that he was glad to hoar Councillor Agar preaching municipal sendees for use instead of profit. As the Electricity Committee was not unanimous on the subject it was wise to refer the matter back. Councillor H. T. Armstrong also opposed the report. Councillor J. W. Beanland said that the department, although paying, wan giving the power user an advantage over the light user, and if that was true it should be stopped-■ However, he would not oppose Councillor Agar’* motion. Councillor E. H. Andrews said that ho would vote to refer the matter back, but he believed in an equalisation of rates. Councillor D. G. Sullivan said that the council might lose revenue by causing users to overload their motors. Councillor J. O. Jameson charged the committee with “pitching tales’’ about the losses it was making as an excuse for increasing the’ charge for heating water at the tepid bath and pumping high pressure water. U : power users were getting eurrent for nothing meters should bo installed to measure it. Councillor J. A. Flesher said that the proposals were intended to make' power users instal motors in which the meters would register what- was used. Councillor M’Kellar said thal meters would bo installed from January 1 and users would be charged for what they used. He was satisfied that the now system was fair as betwf?eu vwo classes • ktst year brought m £_b,9ol, and the units sold numbored while powsr brought in £_o ) i,37. and the units sold numbered 4,441,000. In other words, lighting averaged 3.167 d per unit, and power l-120d. Power bargains had been made too cheaply. The clause was referred hack