New-York tribune., 1908-02-27
ELECTRIC LIGHT PROBE.
"Breakdozon" Seruice Investigated at
First Session.

Fourteen of the seventeen electric lighting
companies doing business in New York City had
representatives yesterday at the opening session
of the hearing which the Public Service. Com
mission is to make into the general conduct OF
the companies particularly in regard to service
and rates to consumers. After Commissioner
Maltoie who is preside at the investigation,
had outlined it's general purpose. saying it had
been determined upon in response to many COM
plants received since the commission took Of
flee, Henry ]. Hemmens, of Beardsley & Hem
mems, behalf of the New York Edison com
panv. the Brush Electric Illuminating Company,
the United Electric Light and Power Company
and the Consolidated Telegraph and Electrical
Subway Company; Charles T. Mathewson. rep
resentng the New York and Queens Electric
Light and Power Company, and A. II. Norton.
for the Richmond Light and Railroad Company,
entered formal protest that the commission
had no power to go Into the subject or to FIX
rates to be charged to consumers.
Most of the complaints which the investi-
CATION is based were entered with the commits
sion by consumers having electric lighting
plants of their own who complained about the
conditions and rates made for emergency or
breakdown service. Commissioner Maltbie.
after listening to the protests of counsel at once
started into that subject At the suggestion of
had already submitted memorandum of the
terms which II would furnish breakdown con-
nectfons to any applicant Operating private
plant-namely, $50 a year for each kilowatt Of
installation exclusive of the charge for the
current.
Arthur Williams. general inspector of the New
York Edison Company. who was the first wit
ness said that out of 10000 customers of the
company only 123 received breakdown service
and that contract for this service had been
taken in the last two years. Mr. Williams
thought the rate of $50 a kilowatt fair one
When asked to explain by Commissioner Malt
bic how this rate fixed the witness tried to
do So but became tangled up in figures, until
at last the commissioner told him he wanted no
Juggling but get as much light as possible
j. W. Lieb, jr., the third e-president and
associate general manager of the company, when
called to the stand said frankly he would not try
to explain Mr. Wiams's attempt to make clear
the fixing of the rate of $50, but he also con-
tended that $50 a fair rate to the customer
Weldon W. Freeman, vice-presdent and gen
eral manager of the Edison Electric Illuminating
Company. of Brooklyn. followed Mr.. Lieb to the
stand His company, he testified, gives the
breakdown service at $50 kiIowatt $40 less
than the rate quoted to the commission by the
New York company: but at that rate he said
his company lost money. He did not deny that
the company had been giving the service at that
rate for several years when Mr.. Maltbie wanted
to know why losing rate was fixed Frank W.
Smith, of the United Electric Light and Power
Company. said that the company's one customer
for breakdown service paid S24 a kiIOwatt
Altogether there seemed to be decided differ
ence of opinion among the representatives of the
companies present as 10 what was fair rate for
the service and to how 1t should be COM
day Commissioner Maltbie will call some of the
users of the breakdown service to the stand TO
get some estimate of what the consumers think
Is fair compensation for the service