asked the Minister for Supplies whether he will recommend to the Electricity Supply Board that, in carrying out the present system of rationing, regard will be had to the fact that many consumers are tied to such a low quota that its reduction to 20 per cent. is impracticable, and means that they are being virtually cut off, and if he will ask the board to fix a certain minimum figure of consumption, reduction of which will not be insisted upon.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Ration.
The consumption of electricity is still in excess of the amount which can be produced on present coal supplies. The restrictions at present in force have not reduced consumption to the extent necessary. This position is under consideration, but it will be obvious that no proposal involving increased use of electricity can now be entertained.
Mr. Burke
While I have great sympathy with the difficulties the Minister has to face, there are some cases that might be considered, one of which concerns the position of a family where only a ration of 11 units was allowed during the months of June and July, 1941. In such cases they are only allowed 80 per cent. of what they were allowed previously, representing practically two units. My suggestion is that the Minister might sympathetically consider the position of such people and try to strike a happy medium so that an increased allowance might be given there.
Would it not be possible to have a pro rata decrease, based on the actual consumption of various consumers, varying in the case of small consumers to 25 per cent. and to 50 per cent. for large consumers; allowing a certain minimum in view of the fact that in a large house much more lighting is required than in a four or five roomed house? It should not be very difficult for the Electricity Supply Board to carry out such an adjustment.
I pointed out that the restrictions at present in force have not reduced consumption to the extent considered necessary, and that there can be no consideration given at the present time to any proposal that would involve an increased use of electricity. Whether it will be possible to maintain the existing ration is doubtful.
Take the case of a large house. At present many of them have four or five units per day, based on one-fifth the consumption in 1941 as against four or five units for eight weeks in smaller houses. There could be a larger cut in the case of larger houses.
The only practical system of rationing electricity is the one that at present prevails. There is no other system possible without elaborate investigation.