Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-05-14
ok. I'd turning point

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Ok. I'd turning point. ..........$ rs
According to the above we find the
cottage with six lights has reached It's
last turning point, which is cents per
kilowatt, and only burned nine kilo-
watt hours at q cost Of 70 cents: while
the one with twenty lights has not
reached its first turning point. but
pays $1,08 for the same amount OF cur
rent. Taking.eight months. beginning
with October and ending with May. at
an average Of. twelve kilowatt per
month, the six-SA9ht cottage would pay
90 cents and thestwenty light 1874, a
difference of II Dents. or 1928 for the
eight months.
Why should there be such a differ
ence when both consume the same
amount Of current? What Is wrong?
have eleven drop lights and would like
to put In chandeliers. but can not see
why should pay royalty to the ligh.
company on them.
Would 1t not be fair and Just to
all tc give us a flat rate, with or with
out q turning point. and let people put
in what lights they want. and pay for
what they use? We have heard the
argument used for the company, that
they must install machinery In antici-
patton of these extra lights and there
fore have pay accordingly. How about
the future growth Of the city? Isn't 1t
q Door business man who doesn't carry
sufficient stock to supply the antici-
pated demands Of his trade?
b. H. HOWIG.
1.-THE editor Of the T.-R. had the
same fear as to the inquality Of the
rate proposed in the franchise until he
had figured It out carefully in COM
parison with the Hull ordinance rates
which were based on consumption re-
stalled, and when it appeared that the
rates proposed in the franchise were
actually lower in effect than the Hull
ordinance rates the necessity Of quar-
reling over the basis used disappeared.
In the first place Mr.. Howig has
overlooked the 10 per cent discount for
cash. This makes IL cent rate net
1913 cents. The great difference Is
that the present Jones & Hovey rates
are figured on a turning point Of two
kilowatts per lamp or one hour and
twenty minutes use day and the rate
IL Il cents net. The new rate starts at
1913 cents net and breaks to 8.3 cents
net at twenty minutes average use per
day instead of an hour and twenty
minutes average use. The result IS
that in a house with ten lights II all Of
the lights were used an hour and TWEEN
ty minutes per day on an average the
present rate would be II cents per k. W.
or $3.50 per month. Under the new
rates electric light In this house would
cost at the rate Of 1913 cents net for
the first twenty minutes average use
per day, then at the rate Of SO cents
for the next forty minutes average use
and at the rate Of ~ cents for the
next twenty minuteG average use.
making the bill $1.40 per month or half
the present Jones & Hovey rate. I'm
der the Hull ordinance this ten lamp
house would pay - per month.
The electrical experts argue that the
turning point method Of basing rates is
the only scientific method to graduate
the service according to cost ana tho
public utility commissions In various
states seem 10 adopt their view Of 1t.
Tie reason given 10 that the consumer
with . large number OF lamps COM
pels the company 70 keep equipment
enough to serve the full capacity Of the
installation and that that equipment
stands ready to serve twenty four
hours in the day tor only ono hours
actual average use. This kind Of con-
sumption manifestly costs moro to
serve than that Of the customer who
uses . small number OF lamps and uses
them more hours IN the day.
Whether this 10 true or not becomes
Of very little consequence when the
net results are considered. Taking Mr..
H0v:S's s.rposeA CAGES ~ six and ten
land twenty light Installations for one