The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-07-29
BOTKIN IS FIRM CITYS SIDE OF 1T
Superintendent StahI on Elec-
trio Light Cost.
Couldn't Save Money Buying
From Edison Company.

E. G. Stahl, superintendent of the
electric light plant, in answering the
Edison company's argument for sale
of current for municipal use, said,
in a statement today:
IAN item appeared in the columns
of the State Journal of July 81, stat
ing that the Topeka Edison Co. would
furnish current to the city of Topeka
at a lower rate than the city could
manufacture it.
81 will take this opportunity to eX-
plain the circumstance just as it is.
THE Topeka Edison Co. proposed
to furnish current to the city of To
peka at the following rate based on a
sliding scale:
Five thousand kilowatt hours, two
cents per kiIOwatt hour.
The next 10000 kilowatt hours, u
cents per kilowatt hour.
Above $4,000 kilowatt hours, Il
cents per kilowatt hour.
This rate was for current on the
Edison Cos. switchboard, metered by
an Edison Cos. meter. In the trans
mission of this current to the city
light plant for distribution. there
would be a line loss of at least five
per cent. There would be the ex-
pense at the city plant of maintain
ing and operating the distribution
switchboards, which, taken from the
1914 annual report would be as fol-
lows:
Maintenance of rectifiers. .......-. 6O3.SS
Maintenance of building and yard. 6S.94
Total for year. s., 666 90
Total per month ....--.--.---.- 222.24
Now to get the real cost of cur
rent on the city's switchboard when
purchased from the Topeka Edison
company, this latter amount together
with the j. per cent increase in current
for line loss must be added TO the
cost of current on the Edison com
pany's switchboard In other words,
the apparent low rate offered by the
cause the ultimate cost of current
would be greater than if generated at
the city plant, which fact is proven
by the following figures:
Monthly Consumption.
Average monthly CON
for street lighting. 10000 kilowatt hours
Adding so for line
Cost at Edison Co.'S 10000 Ai'' " ~ -O'-'
switchboard ..... 100000
Adding cost of operat-
ing citys distribu-
tion switchboard
as enumerated above 222.24
Actual cost of 10000
kilowatt hours
city's switchboard
W hen purchased
from Edison Co. 81. 1922
Cost per kilowatt hour. .1.S7 cents
Cost at the city plant to gen
crate current in 1914 1651 cents
Amount saved per kilowatt hour
by city plant. Observation-Disclosures. .219 cents
Total amount saved
in year-....... 81 $3.50
The above facts thoroughly dis
prove the theory that there would be
money saved in buying current from
the Edison Co., for street lighting. The
cost for current for the new white way
will be less than one cent per kilo-
watt hour in addition to the total pres
ent operating cost.
Street Lamps Unimportant.
I'm the operation of street lamps,
the cost of current per klowatt hour,
while an important item, is really one
of the smaller factors of expense. In
terest and depreciation on investment,
repair and upkeep of liens and extern
sions are all items that bear on the
ultimate cost per street lamp, and
that ultimate cost per street lamp
per year, together with the quality of
service given, are the two important
considerations in street lighting.
The gross cos. per arc lamp per
year for 1914, including interest, de-
probation and loss of taxes was $500,
for so candlepower incandescent lamps
$500 and for white way standards
(not including interest and deprecia-
ton on standards for this is borne by
the property owners) $500. With the
installation of the new machinery
asked for in the budget for next year,
this cost can be materially reduced in
every department.
improvements VIII Help.
ANY street lighting contract with
the Topeka Edison Co, should be made
on the basis of cost of street lighting
unit per year. With the installation
of the more economical machinery
asked for in the budget and the addi-
tional installation of lamps in the
future, the above mentioned cost can
be easily reduced 20G6 and any con-
tract with a corporation calling for
a larger price than that would be a
money losing proposition for the city.
AT one time the Edison Co. lighted
the streets of Topeka. Their price per