asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state, in relation to all areas now connected under the rural electrification scheme (1) the ratio of capital expenditure to fixed charge revenue; (2) the fixed charges as a percentage of capital; (3) the annual cost of the network as a percentage of capital cost; (4) the number of dwellings connected expressed as a percentage of the total; (5) the number of dwellings in respect of which the capital cost of connection would not exceed 16 times the fixed charges revenue expressed as a percentage of the total number of dwellings, and (6) the average capital cost of connecting each dwelling.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Rural Electrification.
In relation to all areas now connected under the rural electrification scheme the Electricity Supply Board inform me that (1) the ratio of capital expenditure to fixed charge revenue is 13.32 to 1; (2) the fixed charge revenue as a percentage of capital is 7.5; (3) the annual cost of the network as a percentage of capital cost is 7.41 in the case of capital charges on repayable advances and 3.34 in the case of non-repayable advances. The annual cost of the network includes also the working costs but, as most of the networks have only recently gone into commission, it is too soon to give any figure for annual working costs; (4) the number of dwellings connected to date in completed areas is 57 per cent. of the total dwellings in these areas. I am informed by the board that it is not possible to give the information asked for at (5) of the question inasmuch as the networks for the areas are only designed and costed to include those who agree to take supply; (6) the average (capital) cost of connecting each dwelling up to 31st December, 1949, was £80 14s. 0d.