Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-11-14
COUNCIL ADOPTS
RATE ORDINANCE
Electric Lights Put on Turning
Point System, at Ia and
Z Cents
REDUCTION OF 20 PER CENT.
Gas Rates Arc Also Lowered About
Similar Amount, Illuminating at
s1.65, Fuel at s1.45, as Against $1.a5
and s1.so-Amendmcn to Light Sec
ton Before Final Adoption.


The city council Monday night
adopted the new rate ordinance gov
erning electric lights and gas for
commercial purposes and the new
schedule will be in effect with the
beginning of the new month, following
the official publication OF the ordin-
ance. A general reduction OF about
20 per cent is shown In both light and
gas by the new ordinance. The lights
are put on q turning point system,
| instead Of q graduating scale, as the
recent substitute called for This was
done by an amendment by Mr.. Web
ster, which followed a similar amend
ment by, Mr.. Sieg.
The ordinance was placed on its sec
| ond reading and was opened for discuss
sion and debate. Mr.. Sieg offered an
amendment to section Z OF the sub
stitute ordinance, which called for a
turning point schedule instead OF the
graduated. Mr.. Sieg's amendment
placed the rate at Is cents per 1000
watt hours up to 1000 watt hours, per
| 16-candle power lamp, and for all
above that amount cents per 1000,
the minimum rate to be rs cents. A
| 5 per cent discount for prompt pay
ment Of bills was also called for.
Mr.. Sieg explained that he thought
this rate, which was almost Identical
to that in effect at Des Moines, would
prove solution OF the trouble, and
would be satisfactory to the company,
and save any possible litigation over
the question.
Mr.. Webster thought that the coun-
ell might go a little further, and make
the rate identical with that Of Des
Moines, and accordingly offered sub
stitute for Mr.. Sieg's amendment.
This substitute specified the rate OF
IA cents per 1000 watt hours up to
1000, 16-candle power, and all remain
ing cents per 1000 watt hours, with
the minimum charge rs cents and no
other charge for meter rent.
The rate under the old ordi-
nance is hard to compare to the new
rate, as the system differs so widely.
OHQCC Tie Ulu TuIG lIlG CAAl &c was "
cents per 1000 watt hours up to $4,000
watts, and discount Of 20 per cent.
The saving to the consumer, 1t will
be seen by the new rate, will be more
general, and the smaller consumer will
save on the same proportion as the
larger The general reduction, as near
as can be figured, will be 20 per cent
on months bill.
Rates for Gas.
The new rates for gas, as carried
in the adoption of the new ordinance.
are in accordance with the substitute
as offered at the last meeting by MIR.
Webster, who prepared the ordinance
and has championed it from the start.
Gas for illuminating purposes Is fixed
at $1.65 per 1000 cubic feet, with dis
count of 25 cents for prompt pay
ment per 1000 up to 1000 cubic feet.
The discounts range from rs cents up
| to 40 cents for 10000 cubic feet. Gas
for fuel is placed at $1.45 per 1000
Icubic feet, with discount of 10 cents.
On bills OF 1000 and over discount
OF 80 cents is made. The minimum
bill is so cents, which includes meter
rent.
The present rates are, for illuminate
ing gas, $1.s5, with 10-cent discount
on bills under 1000 cubic feet, and run
ming up to Is cents Tor bills OF 10000
and over. Fuel gas, under the old
ordinance, is $3.50 with a discount OF
10 cents up to 1000, and % cents for
1900 and over.
The new ordinance fully pro-
tects the consumer in the
question of inspection OF meters,
and any one believing his meter to be
defective, and registering wrong, can
call for an inspection, which will be
granted him. If the meter Is found
to be registering fast the company
pays for the cost Of the inspection, but
if it is all right, or registering slow, the
consumer himself pays the bill.
The quality Of the gas furnished,
and the pressure maintained, Is an
other important section of the ordin.
ance, and is referred to in technical
terms as to both. The quality called
for is Of high standard of gas. and
the pressure must be strong at all
times