Arizona republican., 1909-06-01
EFFECTIVE AUGUST FIRST
Fifteen Cents Per Kilowatt Basis of New Rate---Scale Runs as Low as Five Cents With Commercial Discount of Ten Per Cent

The promised announcement or cheaper electric light service by the Pacific Gas & Electric company was made yesterday. Mailed to each patron through the postoffice was a schedule of the new rates, accompanied by the following circular letter:
 Phoenix, Arizona, June 1, 1909
 We are pleased to announce, as per attached slip, our rate schedule to be- come effective August l, 1909. The company desires at this time to thank the public for it's patronage, and will continue to give the same good and uninterrupted service which it has in the past,
 The Pacific Gas 6 Electric company has always shown desire to make extensions and expand ip every way possible, and will continue to make such extensions and expansions and keep pace with the growth of Phoenix, which we strongly believe is and all ways will be the inland metropolis of the southwest, and will ever boost for Greater Phoenix and the welfare of it's citizens.
 Yours very truly,
 PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO,
 F. H. Ensign, Manager. / The resident rate schedule effective August 1, 1909, is as follows:
 First 100 K. W. Hrs. at 15c per k. W.
 Second 100 K. W. Hrs. at He per k. W
 Next 200 K w Hrs at 12c per k W. Next 200 K. ". Hrs at 10c per k. W.
 Next 200 K w Hrs. at Sc per k. W.
 Next 200 K. w Hrs. at 6c per k. W.
 Balance K. w Hrs. at 5c per k. W.
 Minimum bill $1.5O per month.
 The business and commercial rate made to such consumers as would come under that heading. and the larger consumers of power is the same as the above except that on all bills settled on or before the 10th of the month. there will be given a discount of 10 per cent.
 It will be noted that the basis of the new rate is 15 cents per kilowatt and depending upon the quantity consumed it scales down to cents per klowatt if the consumption exceeds 1000 k. W. with a further discount of 10 per cent to the larger consumers.
 For the purpose of comparison it is recalled that the basis of the present rate is 20 cents per kilowatt. While the larger consumers have a lesser rate it is not a scheduled arrangement and is the outgrowth of efforts on the part of the company to meet by special ar engagement the just demands of con sumers These have multiplied with the growth of the city until the cOndi- tion is one that might in some cases cases be called discriminatory, though that Is not the intention. The com pany has sought to make a fair charge to each consumer for the amount of service rendered, as every commercial man makes concessions to wholesale patrons or to large patrons in propor- tion to the amount of business done with them. It all goes on a flat schedule now. or rather on August 1st, the lesser rate applying in proportion to the amount used, on all amounts above 100 k w with the further 10 per cent discount for prompt payment by the larger or commercial consumers.
 Manager Ensign was seen last even ing and asked if he desired to make any statements in connection with the announcement of the new rates. He replied that he did and spoke in sub stance as follows concerning condi- tions.
 He said the company had been crit icised very unjustly and very wrong fully in a great many instances. which he had not taken the trouble to reply to- One criticism frequently heard in certain quarters was that of poor ser vice, lights out, etc. In reply to that he said the lights have never been out Since last August, except on the occa- sion of thunder storm which might happen any time, especially in the sum mer, and which would affect any company that might. be operating. The company's regulation" or steady voltage he says is above the average of cities of from 5O,O0O to 100000 in habitants.
 Concerning expansion and improve ments he gave a few facts Illustrating what the company has done during the last three years under his manage ment It has built over five miles of new electric lines and last year rebuilt three and a half miles of old line. The present lines extend a half mile west of the capitol, north to the Indian school, east to the asylum for the in sane and south to the Hurley and Tribolet slaughter house. Mir. Ensign says he has repeatedly tried during the last six or seven months to get the trustees of the Central Avenue road district to decide what they are going