The Washington times., 1915-12-24
Corporation Has Prepared to
Care Promptly for Increased
Demand for Meters.
PER CAPITA COST 81 MONTH
Charges Now Compare Favor
ably With Other Cities Visit
ed by Utilities investigators.

Officials of the Public Utilities Com
mission and the Potomac Electric Power
Company are anticipating a large I'm.
crease In the number OF users of cleo
p trfcity for heating and cooking as a re-
suit of the reduction in rates. The com
pany. 1t was stated today. is ready to
install meters as fast as the orders
for them is placed.
The new rates. which have been APP
proved by the Public Utilities Commits
sion and are effective Immediately. are
10 cents for the first ten kilowatt hours
monthly. with a charge OF cents per
kIlowatt hour for excess current. The
former rates were 10 cents per kilowatt
holnr for the first 40 kilowatt hours
monthly, with an excess charge of 6
cents.
Average Monthly Cost.
The average monthly cost of current
for cooking and heating under the new
rates, according to officials of the Po-
tOmac Electric Power Company, will
be between 30 cents and 81 per person.
The cost to a family OF six persons
will average about $3.50. These tigures
are based on the cost of the service
In other cities having approximately
the same rates.
The minimum cost of current for
cooking and heating. where it is used
also for lighting, will be 50 cents a
month, instead of 81, as originally pro-
posed.
The new rate schedule was filed with
the commission November 8, but not
until after an exhaustive investiga-
ton and comparison of rates with other
cities was it approved by the commits
sion.
Extent of Inquiry.
The investigation covered the cities of
Duluth, Monroe, and Superior, wis. (:
Boston, Pittsficld. and Reading, Mass. /;
London. England; Victoria, British &C.
lumbia: Hartford, Conn; Atlanta, Ga.
Altoona and Meadville, Pa: Des
Molnes, Iowa; Detroit, Mich; Duluth,
MINI; Kansas City. Mo-; Les Angeles,
BEDDING, and Visalta, CAL. Memphis,
Salt Lake City, Utah: Seattle and Spo-
kanc, Wash: Helena, Mont; Kirkwood,
Ill, and the southwest part of Idaho.
The inquiry, 1t was stated. showed that
the new rates compare faVorably with
those in other cities.
The approval of the commission, how
ever, hinged for a time on the question
Of minimum rate. AS separate meters
for cooking and heating must be in-
stalled, the companY's original nroposal
OF 81 2 month "a minimum rate would
have meant that every user of electric
ity for. heating. cooking, and lighting
would have had to pay 81 a month re-
Eardless of the amount of current used.
How Reduction Was Made.
Under date Of December Ii. Capt.
Julian Schley. executive officer of the
commission wrote to the company point
ing out that as many of the expenses
o. an electric utility are not dependent
upon the amount Of current used and
are approximately the same whether
one or two meters is to be taken care
of, IL would seem that Is minimum
charge in the case of customer with
two meters should not be twice the
minimum charge OF a customer with
one.
On December II. the company replied
that while 1t regarded minimum
charge Of 81 a month as entirely yea
20 50 cents with the proViso that in
case the only electric service Furnished
is for cooking and heating the minimum
charge shall be 81. With this amend
ment, the Public Utilities Commission
approved the new schedule at its last
meeting.