The Washington times., 1915-12-24
Corporation Has Prepared to
Care Promptly for Increased
Demand for Meters.
PER CAPITA COST ST 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 in
crease In the number OF users of cleo
% tricitN for heating and cooking as a re.
suit Of the reduction in rates. The com
pany. it was stated TODAY. is ready tc
install meters as fast as the orders
for them Is placed.
The new rates. which have been ap.
proved by the Public Utilities Commis
sion and are effective Immediately. are
10 cents for the first ten kilowatt hours
monthly. with a charge of 8 cents pei
kilowatt hour for excess current The
former rates were 10 cents per kilowatt
hoAN for the first 40 kilowatt hours
monthly. with an excess charge of
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
he between 30 cents and 81 per person
The cost to family of six persons
will average about $3.50. These t1gures
are based OH the cost of the service
In other cities having approximately
the same rates.
The minimum cost of current for
cooking and heating. where 1t is used
also for lighting. will be so cents a
month instead of 81, as originally pro-
posed
The now rate schedule was filed will,
the commission November s, but not
until after an exhaustive inveStiga-
lion and comparison of rates with other
cities was it approved by the commits
sion.
Extent of Inquiry.
The Investigation covered the cities OF
nulIth. Monroe, and Superior. Wis.
Bostcr. pittsfcld, ana Reading, Mass.
London. England; Victoria. British &C.
lumbia: Hartford, Conn; Atlanta, Ga
Altoona and Meudvillc, Pa: Des
Moines. Iowa; Detroit. Mich; Duluth
MiEn; Kansas City. Mo-; Les Angeles
bedding, and Fisalta, Cal; Memphis
Salt Lake City. Utah: Seattle and Spo.
kane. Wash: Itlena, Mont: Kirkwood
Ill. and the southwest part OF Idaho
The inquiry. it was stated. showed thu,
the new rates compare favcrably witt
those in other cities.
The approval of the commission. how
ever, hinged for time on the question
OF a minimum rate As separate meters
for cooking and heating must be in.
stalled, the companY's original 3roposa
OF 81 4 month minimum rate Woulo
have meant that every user of electric
~ for heating, cooking. and lighting
would have had to pay 81 a month Ie
Eardless of the amount of current used
How Reduction Was Made.
Under date Of December II, Capt
Julian Schley. executive officer of tn.
commission wrote to the company point
ing out that as many of lhe expense!
o. an electric utility are not dependen
upon the amount of current used anC
are approximately the same. whether
one or two meters is to be taken care
Of it would seem that Il minimum
charge in the case of a customer witt
two meters. should not be twice tn,
minimum charge Of customer will
one.
On December IT. the company repiet
that while it regarded a minimum
chsrge of 81 a month as entirely yea
20 50 cents with the proliso that lr
case the only electric service Furnished
's for cooking and heating the minimum
charge shall be 81. With this amend
ment, the Public Utilities Commission
approved the new schedule at its las
meeting