The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-08-08

between system and the rectifier
sets, which sets shall be located in
the company's substation. In addi-
ton to current, this price includes
the switching on and off of lights at
each post, the renewal of electrodes,
the replacement of broken globes
and labor required therefor.
| Prices For Present System. s.
"And in further response to the
inquiry contained in the first para
graph of your letter, we will con-
tinue the present arc lighting system
for the balance of the city lighting,
as per the Philadelphia schedule now
in force at the following terms:
$4,000 per lamp per year; or, on
an all night every night schedule,
$65.OO per lamp per year; the lamps
removed because of the white way
system to be relocated.
"In answer to the second request
contained in the first paragraph ask.
| ing for our best meter rate for 100
luminous globe lamps we beg to
state that our meter rate on 100
luminous arc of &C. amperes, or APP
proximately $50 watts each, is three
cents per kilowatt hour, the COM
pany to furnish alternating. current
at approximately 1920 volts through
proper meter to be furnished by the
company and to be located in the
company's substation. This does not
include turning on or off of lamps,
maintenance or trimming of lamps.
If the city elects, it may locate its
rectifiers in the company,s substa-
ton without cost to the city for
necessary space therefor. ""
What Company Will DO.
eff the city requests, the company
will switch lamps on and off at each
post, and purchase, on behalf of the
city, electrodes and other materials
necessary for trimming and aminte-
nance, and will furnish labor required,
all at actual cost, plus 10 per cent.
The company will also furnish con-
tinuation of the present arc lighting
J system for balance of city at the
prices and under the terms named
above.
"In the second paragraph of your
letter you demand rate for the
private consumer of electricity for
lighting at 6 cents net per kilowatt
and a monthly minimum rate of so
cents, no charge for installing
meter
"In response will say that we hard
ly appreciate what you mean by a
net rate of cents per kilowatt.
Our rates as established and pub
| lished at Mankato give to private
consumers a rate ranging from a
maximum net of 9 cents per kilo-
watt hour to 8 cents per kilowatt
hour, and as matter of fact many
consumers have rate of Az cents
This rate is based partially upon
the amount of current used This
is customary and, in fact, is adopt
ed by your city in its water rates
where sliding scale is given, bas
ing the rates upon the amount used.
We are not justified in making any
further reduction at this time in
electric rates at Mankato.
Minimum Monthly Rate.
1--WE will establish a minimum
monthly rate of so cents per meter
per month to private consumers of
electricity for lighting. This is not
customary, however, and, when you
consider the cost of connection to
take on consume =. e., transform
err service wires and meter, plus la
Dor and installation and the cost
of reading, billing, inspecting, etc.
it is not warranted.
Replying to the third part of the
second paragraph of your letter ask
ing that there be made no charge
for installing meter we would say
that we have never made a charge
for installing meters. We have made
charge of 81 for reinstalling q
meter after it had been removed
because of the consumers failure tc
pay his bill. We think you will
agree that this is a just charge
when you consider the expense tt
which the company is put in remov
ing and re-establishing service, con
Meeting transformer, meter, etc. !,
One Thing Gratifying.
"The third paragraph of your let
ter, stating that the rates for power
service seem to you satisfactory, is
gratifying to us. for these power rates
are low. and should and will hell
), you to induce manufacturing plants
to locate in Mankato. !as.'s:-
In the fourth paragraph of your
letter you also demand gas rate
for The private consumer of $10(
net per thousand feet; minimum
monthly rate 25 cents; no charge fol
installing meter
I'm reply to the above would say
that you have had before you rates
charged for gas service at large
number of cities of the; same size
and larger than Mankato, Throughout
the country, and the usual prices in
cities of the size of Mankato, under
) similar conditions. range from $1.2t
to $1.50 per thousand cubic feet ant
, are considerably in excess of the
price of $125 now charged in Man
kato. Considering our investment
increased taxes and operating costs
we cannot sell gas for less thar
, the price now charged and continu,
in the business.
,, Not Less Than SO Cents.