POWER CHARGES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 21 October 1937, Page 7

POWER CHARGES

NEW “PROMOTIONAL” RATE,

CHANGE OYER TO COMMENCE. BENEFIT TO CONSUMERS. At its meeting to-day, the Wairarapa Electric Power Board decided to change over from the present method of the split coil system of meter reading to a new “promotional” rate. The resolution was carried unanimously, on the motion of the chairman and Mr O. R. Holmes.

“This new rate is one of the most im-* portant matters the Board has undertaken for many years,” said the chairman, Mr A. Campbell Pearce, “but I feel the Board is doing the right thing. ” The chairman, in moving the adoption of the new) rate, said: — “It is a fairer and better way from several points of view. It provides not only a very substantial reduction in our charges, but one which will induce, and make it possible for all domestic consumers to use more electricity at a very low rate. It simplifies the rate from the consumer’s point of view, and it also gives a uniform rate that may some day be applied to both the ‘ all electric’ home and ordinary domestic consumer.

“Proposed rates for the domestic home: First (number of rooms x 2) units at 5d per unit nett; next 120 units, at lid; next 120 units, at Id; balance, at 3d. rates for f all electric home (lighting only) : First (number of rooms x 2) units, at 41d per unit nett; next 120 units, at lid; balance, at Id; heating and cooking to remain the same, Lid Ist 100 units, _ 3d balance. “The primary units are based on 2 units per room, and in fixing the number of rooms, each living room is counted, plus one for a combination, such as bathroom, passage, convenience, etc. The minimum would be 10 units. There will be a few cases to be taken on their merits, such as a very large home occupied by, say, two people. The domestic consumer will at once see that once he gets over the primary units for which 5d per unit is charged, then the rate drops to lid for the next 120 for both lighting and heating. This does not apply to the i all elactric ’ home. The reduction he gets is on lighting. He has already enjoyed the very cheap cooking and heating rate of 13d up to 100 units, and the balance at 3 f l> which will be continued.” The consumers may ask, said the chairman, “How is it that the Board can give such concessions now and ha"v e not done so before ? ” The main reason is that the Act lias been altered within the last year to allow Power Boards to borrow monies to reticulate inner areas instead of having, as we have done for some years, to do all the work out of revenue. We are in touch with the Government to borrow £25,000 for reticulation work, the amount to cover several years. Last year we spent approximately £9900 on reticulation woik from revenue, which will not occur again. The new proposed scale of charges will cost the Board somewhere about £5900 per annum. I think the Board is justified in giving this concession to consumers, as it has been worked out on sound business lines.” “One of the main objects of the proposed new rate,” concluded the chairman, “is to make possible an extended use of electricity for all purposes at the low follow on charge, and' if the rate is adopted, I trust the consumers will do their part by taking advantage of the concessions offered, and gaining, as a result, brighter and happier homes. If we can accomplish this, we shall have done something worth while.” A start would be made to-morrow with the change over, said the secre-tary-manager. Consumers would not see a great deal of saving during the summer, but in the winter the difference would be noticeable.