The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1914-04-30

and extra hazards OF the business in
All It's stages. and so as TO make full
allowance for all reasonable charges
LOT organization expenses. taxes. sal
aries and general overhead expenses
OF going concern. we arrive at the
conclusion that ~ cents or at the
most 10 cents per 900 cubic feet
should be the normal market price
10 the consumer AT any point in north
OF the gas field.
ANY extraordinary variation from
this normal basic rate of 10 cents per
1000 cubic feet can. In our Judgment
only be excused by a showing of alb
normal conditions attending the pro
, duction OF the gas OF extraordinary
catastrophes or accidents attending
! its transportation and distribution.
1 believe that the charge OF 10 cents
per LOCO cubic feet will give an ample
return upon all the money aud prop
erty invested In the business with am
PIE margin for depreciation and re-
placement, and ample allowance for
the eNtra-hazardOus character OF the
business; and that under the condi-
tions which will likely obtain through
out northern and central West Nir-
Slnia Tor many years TO come, there
can be no good reason why the con
sumner OF natural gas in large quaint
Ties should be called upon TO paw more
than this rate. and I therefore recon-
mend. from the evidence IN this rec
ora, that this Commission adopt and
establish as its normal standard basic
market rate for natural gas delivered
70 the consumer az any point in this
state within 60 miles of the gas-pro-
3 ouclng territory, the rate OF 10 cents
per 1000 cubic feet and no more.
The normal industrial rate in this
state should be 10 cents per 900
n "A f.l
one TO two cents above or below this
normal rate. as peculiar local condi-
tions may justify.
A Recognized Distinction.
mere Il well recognized distinc-
ilon between the normal output charge
based on quality alone. and what
would be a proper charge for small
domestic consumption. BY reason of
the added expense of caring for this
J class OF consumers. There is the pro
l portopately larger cost of meters: the
larger expense OF collections. the
larger cost of bad bills. and other
items to be considered. There is also
the consideration that natural gas as
a specially high-class fuel product. is
OF peculiar Nahe and usefulness to
domestic consumers. That il is worth
more TO them relatively. and they are
Wiling To pay more than the large
Manufacturing consumer can afford
. 10 pay. 10 j.. therefore well recog-
nlNed and almost universal practice
10 charge domestic consumers. each
OF whom viii average less than $50 .
wv cubic ieet per month. a rate about
ttMice as large as that charged to the
Industrial consumer
Inc defendant companies. and near
~ All other natural gas companies in
west virginia. as shown by rates filed
win the Commission. have made this
ols,ihctlon; End normal rate of 20
cents per 1000 cubic feet will. in nv
opinion, be a fair and relatively inst
rate 10 be paid by the domestic con.
sumer using less than 100 900 cubic
ieet per month. as compared with a
I er. '''' ''ii'
The defendant companies together
WIN The other natural gas comUanies
throughout the state. a. sbown Inv
Ihelr rates filed with the Commission.
grade down their charges for indus.
| tIlal consumers beginning with The
same rate charged to domestic con
Sutitrs Tor the hrst 10000 or $50 900
CUBIC rect; and this practice I am in
cllhed 10 approve. because there can
Z 1e no good reason in theory why Tor
ne same quantity of gas under simi-
lar conditions. an consumers should
I not be treated exactly alike.
/ would therefore recommend 10
the Commission the adoption as =
normal rate for natural gas 10 be patd
D Dy domestic consumers situated within
Sixty miles Of the gas producing terri
tory. the rate o. 20 cents pei 900
] cubic feet. and that no Variatfons
from this rate be approved gTester
than three cents above this rate ana
then only upon a showing OF local con
7 dttions Justify such variation.
Division Of Territory.
foI rate making purposes and hav-
ing que consideration for the local
conditions affecting production and
transportation. ] advise the division
I OF the territory served by the defend
ant companies into three groups or
districts The first or Southern en-
/ barcing the maEisterial districts.
towns and cities I'm the counties o.
: Monongalia. Marion. Harrison. Dodd-
I ridge, Tyler and Wetzet. and an living
south Of the Southern line Of Marshall
county The second or Middle en-
bracing the counties of Marshall. Ohio
district consisting of the county of
Hancock only In the second or Mid
die district consisting % Marshall. Ohio
and Brooke counties. 7 recommend that
the normal domestic rate 81 20 cents
net and the normal Industrial rate of
10 cents net be- adopted as sic rates.
In the Northern district consisting OF
Hancock county only ! recommend an
increase ~ about 100 above normal
rates. or r. domestic rate Of % cents
/ NFts anu ~ INNNHllAhA NNIN OF ~ cents
net Hs b1slc rates For the southern
district lying south ~ The southern
. line RI Marshall county and in the
very midst Of the gas producinE terri
tory. ] rDComenG "a decrease of about
100 below normal rates. and that
domestic rate Of ~ cents not. and an
. Industrial rate of p cents net be
adopted and approved al basic rates
Discounts Disspproved.
Your Commission further reports.
and Oh clearly convinced from the cvi-
dcnce. that the practice of the de-
PENDANT companies. together with
many other natural gas companies
throughout West virginia OF making
excessive discounts should b. dieap-
proved and Discontinued Discounts
81 Eve cents four cents. three cents.
two cents etc. are common and al
most universal and are used b. the
defendant companies a. shown By
THIS record ln n few localities dis
counte ~ ten cents or greater are a.
lowed iu practice These discounts az
shown BY the evidence in this case
are unreasonable and cover for
fraud and determination
recommend that tho defendant
companies DO alIuwed discount Of
one cent per 600 cubic feet only.
which shall Boz applied uniformly hoth
la. #Ha d"