§ Mr. JACOBSENasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some companies supplying electric light and power continue to enforce their minimum charges, whether current to their value is supplied or not, and that sometimes this amounts to 50 per cent. more than the actual value of the current consumed; is he aware that this course is acting as a direct inducement to consume electrical energy unnecessarily; and if he will direct that during the coal shortage consumers of electric light and power be charged only for their actual consumption?
Sir A. STANLEYI am aware that some electric supply bodies are enforcing a minimum charge. The right to make this charge is a Statutory one which is commonly conferred on electric supply bodies whether companies or local authorities 1637W who are under the obligation to maintain a general supply sufficient for the use of all consumers, and the object of the provision is to ensure to them a reasonable return for the expenditure incurred. The charge is as a rule small, and I should be sorry to think that there are many persons to whom it acts as an inducement to consume energy unnecessarily. I am taking steps to suspend the charge as far as possible when application is made for a revision of price under the Statutory Undertakings (Temporary Increase of Charges) Act of this Session, but to do it generally would require further legislation which I am not prepared to recommend to the House.