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33
field, Hull, Manchester, Nelson, Portsmouth, Whitehaven, Wolverhampton,
and Worcester; while there are 10 other towns, viz., Bolton,
Cardiff, Coventry, Fleetwood, Leicester, Nottingham, Southport, Walsall,
Yarmouth and York, which at the present time have tenders under
consideration. For the same year the number of new towns where
Companies have undertaken the supply amounts only to 8, viz., Cambridge,
Hove, Leeds, Morecambe, Northampton, Oxford, Preston and
Scarborough.
COMPARATIVE COST OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY.
In comparing the cost of gas and electricity, very little reliance, if
any, can.be placed on statements made by individual consumers as to
whether the cost of the electric light exceeds or is below that of gas,
inasmuch as a fair comparison can only be made when it is based on
"light for light," and on the assumption that the lights are burning
for the same number of hours.
Your Committee, therefore, can only be guided by the opinions
expressed by different experts on the subject. Mr. W. H. Preece. the
Chief Electrician to the Post Office, in his recent report to the Town
Council of Tunbridge Wells, says: "There is little or no difference
"between the practical cost of electricity and that of gas. An ordinary
"5-foot gas burner gives the same light as a 35-watt electric glow lamp.
"Each gives virtually 10 candle power. The mean consumption of gas
"per annum for such a burner is 3,000 cubic feet, while the mean
"consumption of electrical energy for the glow lamp is 18 Board of
"Trade supply units per annum. This means that gas at 3s. per 1,000
"cubic feet costs the same as electricity at 6d. per unit, and the mean
"revenue per lamp at these prices is 9s. per annum for each illuminant.
"The price of gas at Tunbridge Wells is 3s. 3d. per 1,000 cubic feet,
"the corresponding price for electricity would be 6½d., and, assuming
"this tariff to be adopted, the mean revenue glow lamp per annum at
"Tunbridge Wells would be 9s. 9d." Mr. Preece also advised the
Vestry of Lambeth to the same effect.
Professor Robinson, in his report to this Vestry in June last year
says:—