ELECTRICITY CHARGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16705, 10 April 1922, Page 4

ELECTRICITY CHARGES.

MINISTER DISCLOSES RATES.

“ There is no reason why all the l offer boards should not know the prices that will be charged by the Government.” stated the Minister of Pubho Works to a. deputation from the Me nawatu hoards which waited on him last week. “ The price for the MangaJ:ao power will be nori less than 2 1 L per annum per kilowatt for .the first 100 kilowatts, £8 per annum per kilowatt for the next 4-800 kilowatts, and £7 per annum per kilowatt for all over that- The prices will not be less than these amounts. These are •he standard rates and they will apply to Mangahao as fat as I know.* 1 Members of the deputation asked if there was n. chance of the minimum rutes being exceeded. Th© Minister said 1»© hoped the lates ho had mentioned would he the maximum. They had been fixed a* the standard rates for the Government installations. and he ■ id not know of any i*a6on why the purchasers of Matigahao Dtiwpr should be charged more. Mr .1. A- Nash, M P : “What are the Christchurch rates?”

The Minister: ''Th© Christchurch T ; tes will b© the same. You are not going to get th© rower at the Christchurch prices- Their contract expires in 1935 and then the Christchurch rites will he the Min© as yours ”

The Government’s contract, with the Christchurch City Council for the supply of power front Lake Coleridge was rifade some years ago. when prices of pliant and material were much lower The contract provides for a. charge for ili© first 300 kilotyatts (400 horse-power’) of £8 13s 4d per annum per kilowatt, equivalent to £6 10s per horse-power All power in excess of the first 300 kilowatts is charged at £5 per annum ner kilowatt, equivalent to £3 15s per h orso-power.