asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state (1) the actual increases in revenue which have accrued to the Electricity Supply Board from (a) increase in valuation charge, and (b) increases resulting from extra charge on units consumed, and (2) the amount of extra cost to the Electricity Supply Board over the same period arising from the extra cost of coal and other increased charges including bonuses.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electricity Supply Board's Revenue.
The board's last year of operation at pre-war rates of charge was the year ended 31st March, 1941. Between that year and the year ended 31st March, 1944, the number of consumers connected increased from 177,581 to 214,888. Over the same period the revenue from valuation charges increased by £144,493 from £376,482 to £520,975 and the revenue from sales of electricity (inclusive of meter rents) increased by £209,701 from £1,695,406 to £1,905,107. In the same period gross revenue expenditure increased by £553,408 from £2,077,480 to £2,630,888.
The Minister is aware, of course, that the answer he has given has side-stepped the question I put on the paper. I asked what was the extra remuneration to the board by way of increases on charges.
The purpose of the answer is to show that the revenue expenditure of the board increased by substantially more than the revenue.