Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-27
Electric Light Rates.

LltClllC Liz III 1edtCS.
While the public utilities commits
sion is considering whether the Po-
tomac Electric Power Company is
supplying current to the Washington
Railway and Electric Company at an
unduly low rate, and what relation
this fact, if established, has to the
question OF rates to the small con-
sumers, the question of comparative
rates in Washington and other cities
may profitably be studied.
1t may safely be assumed to start
with that rates to large customers
will not be too high, for the large
customer is easily able to protect
himself by manufacturing his own
current.
The danger is that in order to pre-
vent neighborhood competition the
rate to large customers will be made
too low at the expense of the small
consumer who cannot economically
produce current for his own use; and
this is what apparently has happen
cd in Washington.
The rate to residences in Washing
ton Is 10 cents per kilowatt hour for
the connected load" for 40 hours
per month and 5 cents per kilowatt
hour tor any excess beyond 40 hours.
a minimum charge OF ST per month
is made.
The rate in Chicago is 10 cents
per kilowatt hour for the maximum
demand for the first 30 hours per
month, 5 cents for the second 20
hours and 3 cents for all over 60
hours.
These terms and figures are rather
technical for the ordinary citizen, but
to the utility commission they will
be very illumina ting.
1t will be noted that the rate in
Washington remains at 10 cents per
k1lowatt hour until 40 hours of the
connected load" is used.
In Chicago the rate for 40 hours
use OF the maximum demand" would
average cents per kilowatt; that
IS, the charge itself is o6259o greater in
Washington than in Chicago for a
hight burning I2o hours month, or
tor hours day for 80 days.
Ibis does not at all measure the
advantage that Chicago householders
who use electric light enjoy over US
in Washington.
The Washington rate requires 100
hours per month use of the Connect
ed load or installation, before the
secondary rate is reached, and it will
come as a surprise to many Wash
Ingtonlans to know that Second
airy rate exists, SO few consumers
use their connected load" for an av-
erage OF 4 hours day.
The Chicago rate, on the other
hand, is based on the maximum de-
mand, IN other words the largest
number OF lights used at any one
time during the month. and accord
ing to Chicago figures the maximum
the connected load"
Translated into plain English, this
means that the average consumer in
Chicago gets the benefit of the sec
ondary rate and the tertiary rate
with consumption OF less than half
the current under the maximum. de-
mand' basis, as compared with the
connected load" basis.
No comparison with Washington is
possible until the public utilities COM
mission ascertains what portion of the
Washington users ever receive a sec
ondary rate, but broadly this fact
stands out, that based on Chicago
averages the Chicago householder
gets a secondary rate after using less
than half the relative quantity for
a quarter OF the number of hours that
would be required if Chicago was on
the Washington basis, and after two
hours average daily use of the same
quantity he gets a tertiary rate OF
less than one-third of the primary
rate. which is the same as is paid in
Washington for most of the curren,
consumed in Washington for house
hold lighting
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