ELECTRIC POWER FOR COU.VTRY DISTRICTS I3 



the large central societies were, according to the quantity consumed, 

 respectively between 25 and 30 pf . and between 10 and 20 pf . per 

 kilowatt hour. The rates charged by the small electric workshops must be 

 considered, from the economic point of view, as excessively high. It seems 

 doubtful, however, whether rates of 30, 35 or even 40 pf. per kilowatt 

 hour may signify a saving. The question, at any rate, demands attentive 

 consideration. The above statements would confirm previous experience 

 that small local workshops generally supply at higher rates than large ones. 

 Let us add also that the small local workshops are exposed to feel more keenly 

 the periodical fluctuations in the consumption of current. While in areas 

 of large extent, especially where manufactures and agriculture are carried 

 on side by side, time brings about a beneficent equilibrium; this is not pos- 

 ible when the districts to be supplied are of limited area and purely 

 agricultural in character. The need for electric motor power is limited to a 

 few months. Thus, for example, in a small local central society the con- 

 sumption of current in June was 377 kilowatt hours, in July 405, in 

 November, 1,656 and in December 2,148. 



What sad experiences many small electric co-operative societies go 

 through on account of lack of competent technical advice is clearly shown 

 in the report of a small local central society of the Rhine district. It says 

 " Our experience has been that it is no such easy matter to found a co-oper- 

 ative society and to supply light and power. When it is known that there 

 is an intention to instal electric plant, all the workshops hasten to offer 

 the most favourable conditions and the estimate of the future return is 

 very high. But experience has shown us that afterwards things are very 

 different. Even in the first year it became evident that the batter^'' and 

 engine were not adapted to our business. We bought a new battery. This 

 had hardly lasted two years when the negative poles were damaged and 

 everything had to be renewed. The new battery after three years had 

 again to be replaced by another and so on in the same way without 

 any reduction of the expenditure. Yet last year the consumption had 

 increased and we hope for an improvement. " 



The financial results of the many co-operative societies for supply are 

 ver5'' uncertain. The statistical data in the Yearbooks of the Xational 

 Federation show that not seldom even societies that have been working 

 for a series of years suffer losses. Probably the consumption of current 

 and the revenue from it are too little to cover the working expenses, and 

 pay interest and sinking fund. Here again the question of rates is not of 

 decisive importance. According to the information available, the rate for 

 motor power is 20, 25 and 30 pf. per kilowatt hour, and for light at least 

 45 pf., though it rises even to 50, 55 and 60 pf. 



It is evident that in view of such high rates the consumption of 

 electric light must necessarily remain limited. Thus the class of con- 

 sumers called " Dunkelbrenner ", little appreciated at the electric works 

 and by the co-operative societies, is formed and the busir esses extend 

 their custom with difficulty. 



