Modern Gasworks Practice

6 MODERN GASWORKS PRACTICE (e) Powers are given to the Board of Trade to graut such facilities as in tlie past entailed formal application to Parliament. As regards (a) the gas unit is the “ Therm ” of 100,000 British Thermal Units and is obtained by multiplying the number of cubic feet as registered by the meter by the “ Declared Calorific Value ” in B.Th.U.’s per cubic foot, and dividing the result by 100,000. The public is well protected from overcharging in case of the actual quality supplied being lower than that declared. An approved type of recording calorimeter must be used by the gas suppliers.1 The practical effect of this section of the Act is to give freedom to the gas undertaking to carbonize solid or liquid fuel in the most economic manner possible. Thus, no process is ruled out merely because it produces a low-grade gas. Although. no drastic alteration in quality of gas bas taken p]ace, yet the Act gives an impetus to any invention or development tending towards the Conservation of fuel and the production of cheap heat units. The under-takers must, if necessary, alter the gas-consuming appliances to suit the grade of gas supplied by thern. In connection with (b) the Act was passed only just in time to save gas under-takings from financial disaster. The Board of Trade are empowered to add to the existing standard or maximum price (converted to a charge per therm) such reason-able addition as may be required to meet unavoidable increases (in cost of produc-tion and supply) which have taken place since June 30, 1914. In debate, and in answer to questions raised in Parliament, it was made clear that the imdertakers are to be put in a position to eam pre-war dividends, although a higher rate may in special circumstances be permitted. Little need be said as regards (c) and (rf). The Board of Trade are given power, if they think desirable, to impose restrictions relating to inerts, limiting the proportion of these to 20 per cent, for a period. of two years alter the passing of the Act, 18 per cent, for a further period of two years, and 15 per cent, after-wards. Unless very good evidence can be produced which will prove the harmful effect of inert constituents, it is not anticipated that the powers of the Board of Trade will be exercised in this respect. With regard to (e) the Board of Trade are given very wide powers, both in respect to foregoing matters, and in respect of additional powers. The necessity for application to Parliament has been considerably reduced, so that the cumbersome and expensive macliinery of the Committee Rooms of the two Houses may be avoided, unless powers are sought beyond the scope of the ordinary and special Orders whicli the Board may issue. It is not clear whether power is given to abandon the sliding scale altogether and substitute an irreducible dividend (see later reference to South Metropolitan Gas Act 1920). Neither is it clear whether the Board can substitute a Maximum Price for a Standard or conversely. 1 It is questionable whether the provision of a recording instrument will be insisted on. In the case of the South Metropolitan Gas Company (the first undertaking to operate on the new basis), the order as to official testing provided for three calorific tests per day at intervals of not less than three hours.