The Saskatchewan power plant that services all manufacturing divisions of Sask Engineering has a budget for the coming year. This budget has been expressed in the following monthly terms:

Needed at PracticalAverage Expected

ManufacturingCapacity ProductionMonthly Usage

DepartmentLevel (kilowatt-hours)(kilowatt-hours)

Regina ........................ 10,000 ........................... 8,000

Saskatoon .................... 20,000 ............................ 9,000

North Battleford ............ 12,000 ........................... 7,000

Prince Albert .................. 8,000 ........................... 6,000

Total ........................... 50,000 ......................... 30,000

The expected monthly costs for operating the power plant during the budget year are $15,000: $6,000 variable and $9,000 fixed.

Required

1. Assume that a single cost pool is used for the power plant costs. What budgeted amounts will be allocated to each manufacturing division if

(a) The rate is calculated based on practical capacity and costs are allocated based on practical capacity and

(b) The rate is calculated based on expected monthly usage and costs are allocated based on expected monthly usage?

2. Assume the dual-rate method is used with separate cost pools for the variable and fixed costs. Variable costs are allocated on the basis of expected monthly usage. Fixed costs are allocated on the basis of practical capacity. What budgeted amounts will be allocated to each manufacturing division? Why might you prefer the dual-rate method?