Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-09-21
New Schedule Of Electric usht Prices

New Schedule Of Electric Light Prices
The directors Of the White River Ell g
trio eompany-W. B, Wall Of Randolph,
l.. NJ. Heath and e. ID. Cushing OF Bethel
have put forth a new schedule OF prices
for electric lights in this village that will
90 into effect the first OF October.
The old rates, based like the new on six
teen candle power, were y apiece a year
for stores, Il so for houses and II for
churches and halls-not less than six TO be
taken The new schedule OF yearly rates
is as follows, the sums named being the
price per Light
stores. offices and hotels, one or two
lights, $3.50; three or four, - six or more,
=.
Houses, one or two lights, $3.50; three or
four, 80; six, q; seven TO ten, sl.S0; eleven
TO fifteen, sl.75; sixteen or more, sl.5O.
Livery stables, 81 churches, public and
society halls, II.
All tenements are counted as separate
houses. and no lights are TO be turned on
for a less period than a year except at
higher rate. Bills are TO be rendered
monthly in advance as heretofore, and I'M
less settled at once the lights Will be
turned off without notice.
A glance at the schedule shows that its
sliding scale affects the taker OF few
lights, while the person with sixteen or
more in his house continues to pay the old
rate OF Il. So This discrimination in favor
OF the large user OF electricity is yindicated
by the company on the ground that the
man with two or three lights in his house
uses all OF those lights constantly, while
In big house with sixteen or more, u Is
probable that not half of them are IN use
as usual thing, those in guest chambers,
parlors, cellars, etc, being turned on only
as occasion requires.
The meter system is not considered prac-
ticable on account of the ten-year contract
made eight years ago with the Bethel
power company, which necessItates pay
ing to that company fiat rate OF II year
IN advance for every house light in this
village. The installation of meters would
violate the contract, which still has two
wears to run and can then be renewed Tor
another ten years at the option OF the
electric light company. Should the con-
tract be broken by the light company, the
power company would be IN position TO
set il aside and bring our village to terms
of higher rate than Il per light. But
Randolph has no reason to envy other
towns with meters; for Nowhere IS the
price OF electricity so low as it is here, even
with the new schedule.
For eight years the village has had lights
50 low that the White River Electric COM
pany has been unable to see a margin OF
profit and finds now that to keep the plant
up in good shape, make the costly repairs
that are frequently necessary aud provide
for the accidents that are bound to hap
pen, a larger revenue is imperative.
The change in schedule does not extend
10 the street lighting for which ten-year
contract las made in 1897 by the village
with the White River company, which al
that time named $50 as the hohse rate,
while guaranteeing to the Bethel power
company $500 lights with no takers volun-
teerfng. The White River company feels
unable to continue longer the old house
rate.