The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-28
new RULES IN GAS
Utilities Commissions win Place
Order Into Effect Jan. 26.
Supply Must Be Measured by
Heat It Produces.

Rules and regulations governing
standards of quality. pressure. accur-
acy of measurement and service of
natural gas utilities in the state,
which were approved at the gas hear
ing held before the commission De-
cember II, will become effective jan
uary 26, 1915, according to an order
issued by the Kansas public utilities
commission.
The issue of the rules is a result of
an investigation which has been un-
der way by the commission for more
than a year. In the fall of 1913 nu-
merous complaints were made to the
commission as to the quality Of gas,
the pressure under which it was be-
ing served to consumers, the inaccur-
acy Of meters in service and the con-
ditions in general under which gas
was being supplied to consumers.
Nearly all the complaints were re-
ceived for the territory supplied by a
company in the southern part Of the
state and the agents of the company.
The complaints alleged inferior
quality, insufficient quantity, inaccur-
ate measurement and that reasonable
service was not given the public. The
investigation consisted of three differ
emit hearings, one December 16, 1913,
another on February "a, 1914, and
still another December II. 1914. At
the meeting held on December II,
1914, the rules to be effective January
26, 1915, were submitted by the COM
mission and with few minor amend
ments approved.
Rules in Detail.
The rules provide that the cubic
foot shall be the standard for meas
uring quantity, and the British Their
NAL unit the standard for determining
the quality Of gas offered for sale.
Except by permission. of the commits
sion, no utility shall sell to the con-
sumers in Kansas natural gas having
a heating power of less than 500 Their
NAL units. and the heating value of
gas shall be determined semi-weekly
except when conditions. in the opin-
ion Of the commission, warrant a diff
ferent period of time.
Distributing utilities shall furnish
gas at a pressure of not less than two
ounces and not more than eight
ounces as measured at the consumers
meter outlet. The daily variation of
any consumers meter shall not exceed
100 per cent of the minimum of the
meter. Gas under higher pressure
than that provided in the rules may,
however, be supplied for special con-
tract
All gas. services shall be .metered.
No gas meter shall be placed in ser
vice or allowed to remain in service
that is not in good order and no me-
ter shall be allowed to, remain in SER
vice longer than five years without be-
ing tested.
Any consumer may have his meter
tested by the commission providing he
make application and enclose the re-
quired Zee. The fee ranges from So
to So, according to the size Of the me-
ter Such tests Ht1I1d; b T. nude by rep
resentatives of the Commission After
June 1. tests made, with uncertified
apprenticeship Lot be deemed author
itative by the commission. ~
For the purpose of educating con-
sumers in the matter of economy in
the use of gas, each producing COM
pany shall mail to each Of it's patrons
every year a pamphlet containing full
information regarding the economical
adjustment and use of gas burning
equipment The pamphlets must be
approved by the utilities commission.