The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1912-05-15
ABOUT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
City Electrician Gives This Paper
Further Data About
City Plans.

the following information is given
The rates are based on the present de-
mand of the city as obtained by can.
vass, and are sufficient to make the
electrical system self-supporting within
from three to six months after the de.
livery of current commences. These
rates are also sufficient to pay interest
on the electrical system bonds, allow
for depreciation and replacement. pay
for all labor and maintenance, purchase
| the power from the Reclamation Ser
vice, pay for the extension of the sys-
| TEN from time to time without the
issuing of more bonds, and create a
fund which will be sufficient to pay off
the present bonds when they become
due without the necessity of further
taxation. When the maximum rate of
| fifteen cents per kilowatt hour is COM
pared with the rates of other towns
sim liar in size and location in Nevada,
it will be seen that Fallon's rate is
about an average, with the advantage
that as the system here develops, the
rates will be lowered accordingly, with
the possibility of reaching four or five
cents.
The maximum rates charged at Ely,
Goldfeld. Tonopah, Rhyolite, Pioneer,
Bonnie Clair, Blair, Silver Peak, Mil
lers, Manhattan, Round Mountain,
Aurora, Luckyboy, Fairview. Wonder
and Las Vegas are 20 cents. AT Love-
lock, where there are two plants, VIM
nemucca and Elko 10 cents, while at
Reno, Sparks. Virginia City and Car
son, where there is large demand tor
electricity, for both power and light
ing, and where the systems have been
established for number of years prac-
tically at the source Of power supply,
the rate is z cents.
1t is from the Sierras that practically
all electricity generated by water power
in this state is obtained and whether
this power is transmitted to the con-
sumer by long distance transmission
line, OF by canal and transmission line
combined, the ultimate results so far
as cost is concerned are practically the
same, probably fayoring the transmits
sion line as against canal and trans
mission line, except in the instance of
Fallon where the canal is also used for
irrigation. 1t is certainty that from
no other source could power be supplied
so cheaply at the start as it can from
Lahontan, and with the added certainty
that the cost will be reduced as the de-
mand increases, it should be particular
ly desirable not only to the householder
but TO the business man as well.
The time at which the system will
become self supporting depends entire
ly upon the rapidity with which the
various business houses and residences
connect to the line after it has been
completed which is expected to be
sometime after the middle of July.
Ali material for the construction of
the lines will have arrived by the end
of this week. with the exception of the
poles, construction work will be COM
meneed Immediately following their ar
rival.
Some apprehension has been express
ed as to the ability of the Reclamation
Service to supply the City with electric
ity this summer, due to the shortage of
water. That such fear is groundless is
brought out by the fact that at the
present time the amount of water be-
ing used to operate the power plant and
some three or four hundred horse pow
er motors connected to it is thirty sec
ond feet, while more than three hnn-
dred second feet are going around
through the chute.
The amount of water required for
power to operate the City's electrical
system will be about ten second feet,
in addition to that used at Lahontan.
Furthermore it is evident that the Re-
clamation service does not tear water
shortage of such proportions as to make
the operation of the power plant at all
uncertain Otherwise some prepara-
tion would be under way for the in
stallation of an auxiliary plant. to en-
able the carrying on of construction
work. Such plant would certainly
be constructed were it at all probable
that power would not be available
from the present equipment. The total
amount of water used for power pur-
poses is so small that it is scarcely to
be considered and though the entire
flow of the Truekee was taken out for
irrigation purposes around Reno, there
would in all reasonable probability be
enough seepage back into the river to
supply the power demands at both Fal-
lon and Lahontan.
The one salient feature about the
city's electrical rates as outlined to
date for both power and lights is that
they are altogether tentative. Being a
municipal enterprise merely the retire
ment of the bonds and the payment of
interest thereon as it becomes due, plus
operating expenses and the usual wear
and tear of equipment is aimed at. But
should following the placing of the
system upon thorough working basis,
the rates as in effect return sur
plus over and above these items,
the charges will be lowered to conform.
The city's plans are calculated to make