The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-14
bOARDUNAN|MOUS IN ADOPTING NEW
 LIGHT ORDINANCE Judge Lane Explains Reason for the Amendment Pre- sented by Him ALL BILLS REDUCED
 BY NEW SCHEDULE Lane Says Consumer Will Save Money Even Though He Does Not
 Take Advantage of Ten
 Day Discount

The city commission yesterday morning adopted an ordinance regulating the charges to be made after March l by the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company. The action of the com missioners was unanimous. The ordinance brings about substantial reduction in the present rates of the company.
 For the purpose of correcting what he termed an error in the original draft of the ordinance, Judge Lane yesterday pre- sented an amendment. He explained this amendment as follows:
 After drawing the original ordinance my attention was called to the fact that there was double discount, and the amendment was drafted to obviate this ef- fleet. Section 1 of the ordinance provides ' for quantity discounts ranging from 10 per cent to 50 per cent, according to the quantity used. These quantity discounts are to be allowed on all bills absolutely, and the allowance of a 10 per cent 'addi- ton to the bill was intended to have the effect of a partial set off against those ab- solute discounts in case the consumer should fail to pay within 10 days after the rendition of the bill. The discounts in any event exceed those heretofore all lowed, and the quantity discounts make very considerable reduction. The charge, of 10 per cent in case of failure to pay within 10 days is upon the net bill-that is, the bill as it stands after the quantity discounts have been made.
 Should the consumer not pay the bill within 10 days after presentation of bill to him. the bill could not possibly, under the new ordinance, be as large as it would have been under the old ordinance, even if, under the old ordinance, the consumer had taken his discount. and even if under the old ordinance the charge had been 10 cents per kilowatt."
 The ordinance to establish maximum prices and charges for electric current to be furnished for incandescent light ser vice in the city of Birmingham, and to provide punishment for violations of this ordinance, follows:
 Be it ordained by the Board of Com mssioners of the city of Birmingham as follows:
 "Section 1. Be it ordained that from ' (and continuously thereafter until fur ther orders by this board enacted by ordinance or resolution), corporations firms or persons furnishing or supplying to others, for compensation electric cur rent for incandescent light service, or other incidental uses, shall not charge for such current a higher rate than ten cents per kilowatt hour for current used by the consumer; subject, however, to the following quantity discounts, to be allowed on monthly consumptions
 0-25 kilowatt hours 10 per cent dis count.
 25-15o kiowatt hours b per cent dis count.
 15o-25o kilowatt hours 20 per cent dis count.
 25o-4OO kilowatt hours 25 per cent dis count.
 4O0-5oo kilowatt hours 30 per cent dis count.
 5oo-1ooO kilowatt hours 8 per cent dis count.
 1ooO-9ooO kilowatt hours 40 per cent dis count.
 aOoO-sooO kilowatt hours 45 per cent dis count.
 3OoO-4ooO kilowatt hours 50 per cent dis count.
 Provided, however that there may be charged minimum rate as high as 80 cents per month.
 Section IT. Be 1t further ordained that when payment of a bill shall not have been made within ten days ofter the ren- dition of such bill to the consumer, an 10 per cent may be charged by the cor poration, firm or person furnishing the current The quantity of current con- stunned shall be construed to mean and to include all current furnished for in- candescent lights to any one consumer in a single building whether one or more meters are used therein. The words month and monthly where used in the foregoing schedule, are intended to enl- brace the periods between regular read ings of meters by the company, and such readings shall be approximately monthly
 Section III. Be it further ordained poration, firm or person, or any officer or agent of any such corporation, firm or person. furnishing or aiding in fur nishing electric current in said city, to| charge for such current, prices eXceec- ing those hereinaboye set out, and for any violation of this ordinance, the cor poration, firm or person. officer or agent guilty thereof shall be punished. upon conviction, as prescribed by Section s06 of the City Code''