The Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1912-1917, 1916-06-06

WISCONSIN GAS AND ELECTRIC
COMPANY GIVES NOTICE OF
LOWERING OF RATES.
Action by the Company Is Voluntary.
and VIII Be Appreciated by the
Consumers of Electric Current.

Beginning with the June L bills
the Watertown Gas and Electric COM
pany announces several important re-
ductions in the electric rates. These
reductions have been made voluntar-
lily by the company, are authorized by
the State Railroad Commission, and
are in line with the policy of the COM
pany to reduce rates as soon as con-
ditions warrant. A. G.. Balson man
ager Of the company explains the rate
as follows:
Residence Rate.
The new residence rate is divided
into three steps, viz: Primary II
cents, secondary 5 cents, tertiary 2
cents; whereas the former rate con-
only. s.-
The application of the rate is based
on the number of active rooms in a
house. In determining the number
of active rooms, all rooms are counted
as active except the following three
rooms (Which are primarily or may
be used as bedrooms, including finished
Sodi CT 1OCl1St UclCll lOOllio, UciSSIlSHIS,
garrets, closets and porches.
Primary Step.
A primary or first step charge of II
cents per kilowatt hour for the follow
ing number of active rooms.
1 active room kilowatt hours
active rooms kiIowatt hours
active rooms-12 kilowatt' hours
active rooms-16 kilowatt hours
active rooms-18.5 kilowatt hours
active rooms-21.0 o kilowatt hours
active rooms-23.5 kilowatt hours
active rooms-26.0 kilowatt hours
active rooms-28.5 kilowatt hours
Secondary Step.
The secondary step in the rate is 5
cents per kilowatt hour and is ap-
piled to all kilowatt hours over the
klOwatt hours shown above as apply
ing to the primary rate and up to
and including seven kilowatt hours
per active room. This will be shown
on the second line Of the bill
Tertiary Step.
The third step in the rate is 2 cents
per kilowatt hour and covers all cur
rent used in the residence over seven
klowatt hours per active room.
For house with three active rooms
lows:
II kilowatt hours at II cents
9 kilowatt hours at cents
9 kilowatt hours at cents
Formerly all kilowatt hours over
twelve would have been billed at
cents.
In other words for all kilowatt
hours used during the month over
seven kilowatt hours per active room
the rate will be cents per kilowatt
hour. This means that an electric
iron could be used for l cent per
hour-a toaster for the same amount,
a washing machine for less than this
and so on for all electric appliances.
There is no question as to the
cheapness of the electric service here
now if used in connection with the
various appliances which can be OBJ
tanned to reduce the drudgery and ex-
pense of house keeping.
A reduction in the minimum rate
for small offices and shops from 81
to so cents per month is also an
nounced.
A reduction in the power rate, es-
pecially for large users, is also an
nounced.
These reductions are being made
notwithstanding the fact that wages
and construction costs have increased
materially in the last year.
In an interview with Mr. Babson as
the actual effect of the reductions on
the individual householder's electric
bills he informs THE LEADER that not
a great difference would be percep-
tible during the months of June, July
and August, but after that period the
bills will show material decrease as
compared with the bills of last year.
There is no doubt but that the time
is coming when electricity will be uni
versally used for all home purposes.
and as public utilities companies can