The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-03
LANE INTRODUCES AN ORDINANCE ON NEW LIGHT RATES Reduces Present Electric Light Rates at Least
 16 2-3 Per Cent"
LOAD"
 DONE AWAY WITH
New Ordinance Sets Minimum Month ly Charge at so Cents-Probably Be Acted Upon at the Next
 Meeting of Commission

At the meeting of the city commission yesterday afternoon Judge Lane intro- duced an ordinance regulating the do- mestic rates for electricity to be charged by the Birmingham Railway. Light and Power company. The ordinance will proh- ably he acted upon at the next meeting of the commission.
 The ordinance limits the charge for cur rent at 10 cents per kilowatt hour, and provides that the company may charge a minimum rate of so cents per month The minimum rate permitted by the defunct 10 year contract was S1 o5 per month.
 Judge Lane, in explanation of the ordi- nance, said; Ut eliminates the 10 year contract feature and confines the board to no time as to when other changes may be made. if deemed advisable
 Tt reduces present lighting rates 16 2-s per cent at least.
 Tt generates the consumers from the obnoxious connected load so that they will have to pay in the future only for the current actually consumed"
 The judge stated that he had drawn the ordinance after consultation with en- gineers and other people considered to be in position of knowledge.
 The Resolution
 The resolution as introduced follows:
 "An ordinance to establish maximum prices and charges for electric current to be furnished for incandescent light serv- ice in the city of Birmingham, Ala, and to provide punishment for violations of this ordinance
 Be it ordained by the board of comms- soners of the city of Birmingham as fol- lows:
 Section 1. Be it ordained that from and after the 29th day of February, 1912 (and continuously thereafter until further ord- CTS by this board enacted by ordinance or resolution). corporation, firms or per sons furnishing or supplying to others, for compensation, electric current for incan- descent light service, or other incidental uses, shall not charge for such current higher rate than 10 cents per kilowatt hour for current used by the consumer; subject however, to the following quan- tty discounts, to be allowed on monthly consumptions
 Quantity Discounts
 "0-25 lllowatt hours-1O per cent dis count.
 ''25-l5o kilowatt hours-15 per cent dis count.
 '15O-25o kilowatt hours-2O per cent dis count.
 "25O-fo0 kilowatt hours-25 per cent dis count.
 "4oO-500 kilowatt hours-SO per cent dis count.
 '5Oo-100O klowatt hours-S5 per cent dis count.
 "1OOo-2ooo lSilowatt hours-iO per cent discount
 "2oOO-sOOO klowatt hours-i5 per cent discount.
 "sOOO-4eoO klowatt hours-5O per cent discount
 Provided, however, that there may be charged a minimum rate as high as 80 cents per month.
 Sec. 3. Be it further ordained that when payment of a bill is made within 10 days after the rendition of such bill to the consumer, a discount of as much as 1e per cent shall be allowed by the corpor- aton, firm or person furnishing the cur rent, and the current used shall be con- strued to mean and to include all current furnished for incandescent lights to any one consumer in a single building, during each calendar month, whether one or more meters are used therein.
 Sec. 3. Be it further ordained, that 1t shall be unlawful for any corporation, firm or person, or any officer or agent of any such corporation, firm or person. furn- shing or aiding in furnishing electric cur rent in said city, to charge for such cur rent. prices exceeding those hereinabove set out, and for any violation of this or dinance the corporation, firm. person. off cer or agent guilty thereof shall be pun ished. upon conviction, as prescribed by section S06 of the city code"