New-York tribune., 1907-01-29
REPORT ON LIGHTING.
Commission of Gas and Electricity
Makes Recommendations.

Albany ian. 2S-The second annual report OF
the Commission Of Gas and Electricity sent 90 the
Legislature to-day shows that there IS a total OF
496 corporations, municipalities and individuals fur
nshing gas or electricity for light, heat power
in the state coming under the supervision OF the
commission
The capitalization of these companies aggregates
the OF $5460OO o0O and the gross income from
operation approxmates 100000 per annum. OF
this number 81 plants furnish coal. water,
mixed coal and water gas 162 electricity 81 both
gas and electricity. Il acetylene gas, l3 gasOlene
gas and IL natural gas. or the municipalities en-
gagged in furnishing light. furnish gas and 3
electricity.
The commission makes several important recon-
mendations TO the Legislature as to legislation.
TIE most important OF these recommendations has
20 do with the question OF complaints 10 price.
purity and quality OF gas or electricity, AS the
law stands. complaints be made 20 the
commission by the proper municipal authorities or
by one hundred more consumers OF gas or cleo
tricty in the territory OF the company complained
Of The commission recommends that the law be
amended so that complaint may be made by 25
customers IN the territory served where II ntaina
less than Loco population by 30 customers whore
the population Ia between 100 and 5000 by 70 Gus
toners where the population is between 500 and
10000. and 100 in all other places This amendment
would make It possible for the consumers In any
community in the state who consider themselves
agsrleved to have investigation. and the price
regulated
The commission also recommends an amendment
to the law which VIII require a company incor-
porated before the law went into effect TO obtain
Inc consent OF the commission before exercising its
powers under a franchise hereafter obtained from
the local authorities Such companies are now free
to invade the territory established companies
without first obtaining the consent OF the comms-
sion.
The commission also recommends that authority
be given II 10 revoke all certificates of authority
transact business where the construction OF the
plant in question IS not begun in good faith within
a certain period from the date Of issuing such a
certificate.
Another recommendation of the commission calls
attention To the fact that no provision is made
upon the application OF a company for revision
or prices after the expiration OF three years
ers It 70 ba only fair that company should have
vision of price fixed by IT, as changing conditions
might Increase the cost OF production and dstrbu-
tion. The commission also recommends that mu-
nicipal gas electric plants should DE compeIlcd
to make annual reports TO IL
During the year ended December 81 the
commission had before IT for consideration seventy
four, applications. on all except three OF which
put .lc heariI IS were had.
During the year the commission passed on tho
bonds and Tor osent t - 20 issue Issue stock or
or bonds. The capitalization asked for by these
companies aggregated the sum Of s.. sa.0o6 while
the amount allowed By the commission was IS sS7 =
per cent. -
During the year jus, ended the commission re-
eeived complaints as 10 the price and quality of
gas and the price Of electricity from the following
cities, villages ana towns Albany. gas and elec-
tricity; Buffalo artificial and natural gas Roch-
electricity; Mount Vernon gas and electricity: Nv
ack gas and electricity. The commission has he
gun and is now conducting an investigation in EACH
Complaints were dled with the commission prior
Company of New York and its subsidiary comEa
nieS, operating In the boroughs Of Manhattan and
operating In the Borough Of Brooklyn: the syra-
Syracuse: the PlattsbGrg light feat and PSwer m
Company and the Lozer Light Heat and Power
Company. operating i'm the city of Plattsburg and
Of Auburn. '
IN the matter of the complaint against the Con-
6olidated Gas Company, the commission ordered a
reduction in the price Of gas from 81 thousand
tion of the consttutionality both tho legislative
enactment and the commissions order now
the commission reducing the price Of gas and
electricity IN me city OF Platsburg, Of gas and
city Of Auburn. The commission has ondeavored
about settlement without the necessity of carry
ing on an investigation: Such settlements were
burg to the benefit of the cities In both instances
In each Of these instances complaints had been
formally presented 10 tho commission In MANY
other instances reductions have been made i'm tbe
price of gas and electricity by the action of the
corporations themselves and without the neces-
sity of formal complaints to the commission but
after conferences in many cases with them. These
The amount of gas sold to consumers and for
public lighting during the year was S9S 1855 3Sl
preceding year. an increase Of about per cent
The report of the state inspector of gas meters TO
inspected and sealed by him during the year
OF this number. 6'iS We're private meters, LAG of
which were found to have run fast, sSS slow and
32l9 correct.
During the year the commission received reports
OF $40 accidents. OF these 4S9 minor accidents
OF the remainder IS fatal. . of which were
by gas