The Devils Lake world and inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, N.D.) 1915-1920, 1915-12-16
ELECTRIC RATES
At W|L[|ST0N

S
aid has this to say relative to the rates
for electricity in that city:
Rates for electrical current which
will make possible the utilization Of
electricity for practically all house,
hold uses, a reduction in the rates of
electrical current for lighting pur-
poses as we'll as a big reduction in the
water rates are among the subjects
to come before the city commission in
the near future.
While no definite action has yet
been taken in these matters, it is I'M
derstood from sources in close touch
with the city administration that a
course of action involving these re-
auctions has been practically decided
upon.
According TO the plans said to have
the approval of the members of the
commission is the reduction Of the
ratc Of electrical current for hause-
hold purposes from seven to four
cents per killowatt hour.
Cost For Homes $500.
Should this rate be adopted, Willis
to will have the lowest rate for these
purposes in North Dakota. City Off
Gals are in possession of figures gath
cred turnout the country by electrical
experts showing that the monthly con-
sumption of electrical energy in homes
for purposes other than illumination,
is less than 100 killowatt hours per
month. Upon this basis the cost of
the current would be $500 per month
for the average home.
This cost would include the opera
ton Of an electrical range for cooking
purposes and in order to encourage
the use of electricity for such pur-
poses the city commissioners plan to
purchase electrical ranges in car load
lots, selling them to Williston citizens
at cost plus 10 per cent for handling.
The cost Of ranges under this sys-
TEN will range from SIS to about SOS,
and city officials who have investigat-
ed the subject believe that an excellent
quality of range, sufficiently large to
meet the needs Of the ordinary family
can be supplied here for about 40.
Light Rate Also Down.
While the use of electricity for
cooking purposes will be especially en-
couraged the rate Of four cents per
hllowatt hour will also apply to cur
rent used for the operation of wash
ing machines, bread coasters, coffee
~percoalators and all similar household
appliances. Motors used for house.
hold purposes up to one horse power
size will be included at this rate.
Electrical current used for illumin-
alton purposes will be sold to the con-
sumers at one cent less than the pres
ent graduated schedule of rates, ac-
cording to the plans which have had
the favorable consideration of the
members Of the city commission. In
der this arrangement the cost of cur
rent for the first so killowatt hours,
which is the limit of consumption in
the average home, would be 10 cents
per killowatt hour instead of II cents
as at present, While the cost for the
second so killowatt hours, tie limit in
she majority of business places, would
We nine cents per killowatt hour in
tead of 10 cents as at present.
Reduce Cost of Water.
According to the city officials who
dave had reports from practically all
If the cities Of The a'c these rates
would give Williston the lowest eicc-
trical rates of any city in North Da-
kota. Up to the present time there
mas been no suggestion made that the
rates for power, already considered
low, will be reduced a. this time. al
though the commissioners hope that
by securing & large increase in con-
sumption of electrical energy through
out the city, it will be possible to make
a still further reduction for current
for all purposes.
In the water department the conf
m%issioners plan to place the cost
s%quarely up to the patrons of the de-
partment by installing meters in all
residences as we'll as business places.
The rate for water will then be placed
at rs cents per 1000 cubic feet, in
stead of the rate of 70 cents per 1000
cubic feet which prevails at present.
It IS understood that these plans are
to come before the commissioners for
formal consideration at an early meet
ing.