The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-03-26
Kenosha Gas and Electric CO. To
ReadjustRates Regardless of
Railroad Commission
WOULD FAVOR CONSUMERS
Men Hard At Work Figuring Out the
Cost of Carrying the Small Con-
sumers and Rates May Be
Increased For This Glass
(From Thursdays Daily.)

Notwithstanding the fact that an IN
vestigation Of the rates charged by the
Kenosha Gas and Electric Company is
now vending before the State Railway
Commission that company is now MAX
ing elaborate preparations for the ID
stallation of new schedule of rates in
Kenosha and it is possible that this new
schedule will be installed regardless of
the finding of the commission The
managers Of the company claim that
they are satisfied that the State Com
mission will make no change in the
rates now governing the business of the
company unless it would be to change
some Of the rates in favor of the com
pany, but the company asserts that a
new schedule of rates would prove pro-
fitable to the company as well as ad-
vantageous 10 the people who are pro
ftable customers Of the company.
In order to find basis for such a
change in the schedule Of rates the
company has had experts at work for
some time figuring up the exact condi-
tion Of the business done by the com
pany and this table will result in
division of the customers of the com
pany into profitable and improbable
classes.
The report shows that last December
which was the largest month for the
use Of Illuminating gas the company
ever had, there were but ninety CON
sumers who used in excess Of five thous-
and feet of gas while on the other
hand there were 1882 who used less
than FIVE thousand feet. 1t was found
that the average consumer used below
la thousand feet Of gas. Tt is declared
by the managers of the company that a
consumer does not become a profitable
consumer until his meter reaches the
two thousand feet mark monthly. In
December there were several hundred
consumers or supposed to be consumers
who used no gas at all and the com
pany was forced to maintain the meter
without any return for the expense.
WHAT the company proposes to do is to
force these people who have practically
no consumption to pay the fixed charges
of maintaining the meters monthly and
with this as start to change the rates
at the two thousand foot mark rather
than at the five thousand foot mark.
This would bring reduced gas bills to
all people using 5000 feet of gas or over
and would force the people who have
the gas for the sake of convenience
rather than for daily use, to aid in sup
lporting the company During the
warmer months Of the year the number
Of customers burning 5000 feet Of gas
drops down to as low as eighteen and in
those same months there are few Gus
toners using more than 5000 feet.
The plan Of changing The rates for
electric light brings more complex
question. The profitable business in
the electric lights is found in the bust
ness houses and in the large residences
Of the city. At the present time many
of the stores are closing four or even
five nights in the week but the company
is forced to maintain the same power at
the plant as if all of these stores were
open. It develops that saloons and
drug stores give business which is pro
fitable to the company on account Of the
fact that they are kept open until late
hours every night in the week 1t
would therefore be a matter of profit
for the company to offer such places
lower rates for service as the increased
hours burned would greatly increase
the profit TO the company even on a
lower rate.
1t is specifically stated that this new
schedule of rates will not be put into
service until after the investigation of
the Commission is completed and made
/ y 1biic,