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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1975
THE BILLS OF THOSE USING 100 GALLONS A HEAD A DAY WILL RISE FROM $190 TO $346. THE FLAT RATE CHARGE FOR CIVIL SERVANTS ON UNMETERED SUPPLY WILL ALSO HAVE TO BE RAISED, POSSIBLY TO A PERCENTAGE OF RENT.
HE SAID HE COULD NOT PROPOSE A MORE SOPHISTICATED FORM OF DIFFERENTIAL PRICING BECAUSE OF THE LIMITATION OF THE PRESENT BILLING SYSTEM. DUT PLANS ARE ALREADY IN HAND FOR COMPUTER ISING THE ACCOUNTS.+
HE ADDED THAT IN 1977-78, IT SHOULD BE READY TO SUDDIVIDE THE TOP $6 BRACKET AND CHARGE THE VERY HIGH USERS OF WATER AT AN EVEN STEEPER RATE.
HE WENT ON TO SAY THAT A DIFFERENTIAL PRICING SYSTEM ON THE LINES HE HAD PROPOSED MIGHT BE MORE DIFFICULT TO APPLY TO NON-DOMESTIC USERS. IT COULD BE ARGUED THAT IT WOULD PENALISE LARGE SCALE ENTERPRISES AND OTHER ENTERPRISES IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES WHICH, ALTHOUGH THEY USE WATER ON A LARGE SCALE, ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE ECONOMY.
*NOR DO | PROPOSE ANY INCREASE IN THE PRESENT FLAT RATE CHARGE OF $4 A THOUSAND GALLONS, AT LEAST UNTIL NEXT YEAR. AND I DO NOT PROPOSE TO CHANGE THE ÑATES CHARGED FOR OTHER PURPOSES HE SAID.
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