CHEAPER ELECTRICITY

Waikato Times, Volume 118, Issue 19699, 5 October 1935, Page 9

CHEAPER ELECTRICITY

NEW HAMILTON RATES. OPERATIVE ON ONE METER. i ■ - START AT HAMILTON EAST. Consumers of electricity in Hamilton will observe -a welcome reduction in charges when they receive their accounts at the end of this month from the Borough Council. The new tariffs embodying reductions to consumers totalling about £3OOO per annum became operative at the beginning of this month, although a 10 per cent, discount came into force on July 1 and was discontinued on September 30. Officers of the borough electrical department are now engaged in installing meters'in houses where there are reparate meters for lighting and power. A start has been made in Hamilton East, where 150 -changeovers were effected last month. Altogether there are 3500 change-overs to ho made, which will take between 12 and 18 months to complete. In the meantime all meters are being read and the-charges assessed in conformity with the new tariff, so that all consumers are on tho same basis while the change-over is being made. Separate meters will be used for electric cookens, etc.

Effect of Reduction. An examination of the new -schedulo shows that the more light used hy consumers the cheaper, the rate Is. As an instance of the effect of the new rates, a consumer in Albert Street, Hamilton East, whose account for April amounted to 15s 6d, would have had to pay only 13s 3d under the new tariff. Another -domestic consumer who is in grade two of tho tariff would have had to pay only 18s 10d had the tariff been operating In May. Actually he paid £1 6s. Previously a consumer in East Street, Claudelands, In one month used 10 units of light at 5d per lunit and 10 units of power at 2d per unit —a total cost of 5s lOd. He now comes under grade one of the tariff and ‘is assessed on 8 units at 5d and 12 units at lid —a total of 4s lOd.

Details of Rates. Following are details of the new tariff: — -Commercial Lighting—Up to 100 units, 5Jd, less id discount per month; 101 to 200 units, 4id, less id discount per month; 201 to 500 units, 3id, less i 4 discount per month; 501 units and over, 3d per unit net; minimum charge 2s. ■Commercial Power —Up to 300 units, 2id, less id discount per month; 301 to 500 units, 2d, less id discount per month; 501 units and over, Id per unit net; minimum charge 2s. Domestio Supply—-High rate, sid per unit, less id discount on units as per grade; next 80 units at 2d, less id discount; balance Id per unit net per month; minimum charge 2s. Grades as follows: Grade 1, demand up to .75 k.w., 8 units at high rate; grade 2, demand up to 1.5 k.w, 12 units at high fate; grade 3, demand up to 3 k.w., 18 units at high rate; grade 4, demand up to 5 k.w., 24 units at high rate; grade 5, demand up to 6 k.w., 30 units at high rate; grade 6, demand up to 7 k.w., 36 units at high rate; grade 7, demand up to 8 k.w., and over, 42 units at high rate.