Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-07-22

RATES GO UP
Traction Company Has Put
A New Schedule for Current
Into Effect
CONSUMERS AGITATED
TALK OF NEW PLAN

There is much concern on the part
OF users OF electricity over the new
schedule Of changes for current put
into effect by the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company,
which now controls the plants of the
Wilmington City Electric Company
and the Wilmington Light and Power
Company in this city.
While no bills have been sent out
under the new schedule as yet, many
OF the consumers of electricity feel
that they will be called upon to pay
considerably more for current than
they have been paying.
A few days ago the Wilmington and
Philadelphia Traction Company sent
notices to some consumers about new
electrical rates to go into effect, but
these notices were recalled. Now
the company is having a circular
prepared which will explain the new
rates, which are 10 be In two diff
ferent classihcations.
AS explained by an official OF the
company today. one classification will
be charged at the rate OF three-qusr-
ters Of cent per candle power per
month as an installation and service
charge, and three and one-half cents
kilowat hour for current used.
Another Classification.
The second classification will make
il possible for consumers to get cur
rent anywhere from ten cents a kilo-
what hour down to two cents a kilo-
wat hour. according to the amount OF
current used and the number of hours
the current is used daily. There is
TO be no installation charge under this
classification Consumers who use
electricity less than one and one-half
hours daily will be required to pay
ten cents a kilowat hour Those who
use current more than one and one
half hours daily will get current at
the rate of flve cents a lulowat hour
and il is graded down 10 two cents a
| kilowat hour according to the amount
OF current used and the number of
hours daily It is used
Mr.. Conklin, manager of the cleo
trical department of the Traction
Company, today said the new SEIZED
ule means an increase in rates for
electricity for some consumers. as
the rates for Wilmington has been
entirely too low and improbable
For the stores and other consumers
that use large quantities of current
Mr. Conklin didn't think the new
rates would bring much, If any, in
crease. He also said the rate for res
idence service under the new classi-
fication would average lower than
it has been.
Talk of New Concerns.
Just how the new schedule will
work out remains to be seen, how
ever Many are agitated over it, ant
there is talk of the formation Of /;
mutual or cooperative company (,
furnish electricity for the store
along Market street and the cente
OF the city.
Already some OF the merchant
have been approached upon this sub
ject and several have expressed
willingness to invest in an enterpris
of this kind should there be an,
great increase in the prices for cur
rent that have been charged. TIL
plan advocated is for as many mer
chants as possible. who use cleo
tricity in their stores to becom
stockholders in a company to es
tablish an electrical plant TO fur
nish only their stores. and not T.
engage in the general distribution o
current. Current thus would be fur
nished at a trine above cost.
There also is much talk of one O
two new companies to be formed Z
apply to the Street and Sewer Di
rectors for a franchise to distribut
electricity for light and powe
throughout the city.
Mr.. Conklin today said there ha
been no change in the rates for cleo
tricity for commercial power fur
nished by the Traction Company. IN
old companies have been furnishin
electricity at a fiat rate per kilo
wat hour, and some consumers hav
been getting electricity below tn
cost Of manufacture and distribute,
as a result Of the rate-cutting CONNIE
tition between the two companies.
Many users have contracts for tn
electricity at the old rates and viii
resist should an attempt be made t
break the contracts and put the ne1
. schedule into effect.