Morris tribune., 1913-01-24
TO VOTE ON ELECTRIC
FRANCHISE.
The Otter Tail Power Co., Hav-
ing Secured an Option on the
Local Plant, Desires 20 Year
Franchise New Rate Offered
Based on Demand of Custo-
mers.

G. B. Kidder, representing the CT
ter Tail Power Co., appeared before
the council on Tuesday evening and
asked that his company be given a
fve.year city lighting contract and 20
year franchise. A large number of
citizens we're present and several
members of the electric light COM
mittee including G. w. Geenty. Paul
Spooner and ]. H. Devenney, ex-
pressed themselves as in favor of the
proposition. The council also looked
with favor on the proposition and de-
cided to submit it to a vote of the
people next Thursday.
The Otter Tail Power Co. generates
electrical current near Fergus Falls
by water power. 1t is now selling
that current in Fergus Falls, Wahpe-
ton, Breckenridge and Foxhome. 1t
desires to run line south along
the Great Northern and take in Her
man, DOnnelly and Morris.
The company does not come here as
competitor of the Morris Electric
Light Co. but has secured an option
for the purchase of the local plant.
This option expires on Feb. 1st. and
for this reason, the eleation is called
on such short notice.
Mr.. Kidder's proposition, briefly
stated, is this. His company will take
over the local plant and operate it
until the transmission line from Fer
gus Falls is completed sometime dur
ing the coming summer. Curr Mt
will then be supplied from Fergus
Falls but an emergency steam plant
will re kept here. Service will be
continuous.
In order to justify the expenditure
necessary, 20 year franchise is
asked.
Several alternative contracts are
offered for public lighting which the
council will take up if the franchise
is granted. Longer hours service
would be given for the same rate
which the city is paying today.
For private consumers the rate is
somewhat complicated to one unfam-
liar with the electric lighting busi-
ness, but is quite similar to the rates
established by public utility commits
sions. There is fixed charge of
one-half cent per candle power up to
100 candle power. This is "ser-
vice" charge and amounts to so cents
for every customer with 100 candle
power or more. For the first 80
hours of service for the active lights,
a charge of II cents per kilo is made.
All current used in excess of this is
sold at six cents per kilowatt. If
cooking utensils are installed, a rate
of three cents is made after the
amount of current charged at the six
cent rate is double that charged at
the twelve cent rate.
A discount of ten per cent will be
allowed on all bills for prompt pay
,nent. The company will renew carbon
lamps without charge. The company
will own all the meters and make
no charge for meter rent. The pow
er rates are from-ten to three cents.
Mr.. Kidder also agrees to replace
ali direct current motOrs now in use
with alternating current motors with
out charge.
It ie quite impossible to make gen.
-eraI comparison between the proposed
rates and the rate now in force for
the reason that under the new schedule
each house will have different
average rate as determined by its
active demand. 1t is fairer rate to
all concerned than fiat rate. and is
the same kind of rate which En-
gineer Thorkelsn would have put
in last year if the council had accepted
the proposition of Mr.. SteWar and
let him fix the rate. MIR. Thorkelson
said that fair rate was made by
charging the fixed charges of the plant
against the custumers according to in
stallation or peak demand, and the
operating expenses according to con-
sumption of current. This was the
justification back of the much abused
rs cent sliding scale formerly used
ny the local light company. The same
principle obtained in proposition
recently made by Mr. Stewart to give
rate of ten cents for the first 25
kilos, eight cents for the second Is
and six centa cor all excess. If grant