The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-22

Eastern States The lowest minimum
rate charged is one cent per hiowatt-
hour, this rate referring to q water
power plant operated in connection with
a long transmission line and supplying
customers with power for general puc-
poses, including street railways. The
average base charge per kiIoWatt- hour
through the United States is 123 cents,
while the average minimum charge to
large consumers is 81 cents.
If we m, ght assume that the price of
! fuel is a fair indication of a reasonable
basis of charge, it will be seen that the
rate per kilowatt-hour figures out at
about four per cent of the cost of a ton
of coal. In other words, the average
efficiency of conversion of coal into pow
er is at the rate of one ton per twenty
kilowatt-hours sold. On the same basis
the average minimum is 1t of the cost
of coal, represent an apparent maxi
mum efficiency of conversion of one ton
of coal into fifty-nine kilowatt-hourS
This assumption, however, does not
seem to be entirely warranted, since an
examination of the data received shows
that there is very little apparent con-
nection between the price paid for fuel
and the amount charged for power. For
example, a station paying 50 Tor coal has
basis rate of ten cents. with a mini
mum of two cents; whereas another sta
ton paying only 81 for coal has a basis
rate of fifteen cents and a minimum
charge of five cents. Perhaps all that
may be definitely claimed as shown 10y
these figures is that other elements than
the cost Of fuel are the determining fac
tors in the output cost Of electric cur
rent, or else that the subject has never
received that scientific investigation
which is its due.
In the United States We are in a posi-
ton curiousiy contrasted with that in
which English central stations find
themselves. In that country a legal
requirement forces the publication Of
the figures of cost and charge, the for
mer being analysed very carefully for
all public supply pants The most i'm
mediate result of this publ city has been
the close and accurate study or the costs
of electric supply and the understanding
on the part OF station managers ana the
shareholders in such enterprises of the
various clements entering this business.
y large part of the stations in that
country are earning satisfactory divi-
bends upon the investment they repre-
sent.
Summing up the results as gwen above
show the following:
AVERAGES or FIGURES OF COAL
COST AND POWER CHARGES RE
CEINED FROM REPRESENTATIVE
ELECTRIC LIGHTING STATIONS.
Eastern States-Lowest cost of coal.
SEQ; highest cost of coal. 40: average
cost o. coal, S4p1, average base charge
for power, II cents; average minimum
charge for power, 6.o5 cents; per cent
y ater power. Il.
Middle States-Lowest cost of coal, 81:
highest cost OF coal S.; average cost of
zeal. $2.29: average base charge for pow
e.. i cents; average minimum charge
for power. sos cents; per cent water
power, %.
Southern States-Lowest cost of coal.
,l-33: highest cost of coal. $50: average
cost Of coal. $2.42; average base charge
FOR power. 11.5 cents: average minimum
,harge for power, so cents; per cent
water power, %.
Western States-Lowest cost of coal,
4 50; highest cost of coal. $500: average
oSt of coal. $S.6S; average base charge
or power. 10 cents: average minimum
barge for power 100 cents; per cent
water power. 29S.
All States-Lowest cost of coal. 81,
highest cost of coal. s.; average cost of
oai. 1926: average base charge for pow
=. 1913 cents: average minimum charge
or power 81 cents; per cent water pow
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