The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-09-19

only 1915 II he used the full amount
OF 100000 Gu. II. per month. Tho less
he uses above the first $4,000 Gu. It
per month. the less he saves.
Costs rs Cents More.
1t Is also shown by these compare
sons that the ilrst 5000 Gu. It. consum.
Cd each month will cost 75c more un-
der the new rates than under the old
ones. In fact this entire Increase is
placed upon the first 1000 Gu. It., as
the NTH 1000 IL the same under both
rates.
Under these new rates the first 1000
Gu. IT. consumed will cost soc more
than under the former rates: the Sec
ond 1000 Gu. It. will cost zoe more;
the third 1000 Gu. It. 15c more: and
the fourth 1000 Gu. II. 10c more, max.
ing in all 75c. as above stated.
This Is Is per cent increase on the
first 1000 Gu. It.. so per cent on the
second 1000; STU per cent on the
third 1000: and 25 per cent on the
fourth 1000. The increase on the first
1000 Gu. IT, combined being ASH per
cent. The fifth to tenth thousand in
elusive Is the same, while the next
10000 Gu. It. is decreased &c per NJ,
or IA 2.7 per cent The minimum
monthly charge is increased from SOC
to zoe, which Is an advance Of 40 per
cent. All of the increase, therefore,
which ranges from Is per cent to rs
per cent Is placed upon the small con.
sumer. while reduction of IA ~ per
cent per NJ Gu. IT,. Is made to the con-
sumer who uses from 10000 to 1,000,.
900 Gu. It. per month.
There Are 600 Consumers.
There are at present more than
$500 consumers OF natural gas, which,
upon the value of $3.50, 900. which the
Commission places upon the property
OF this plant, makes an average plant
value Of $72.5S' per consumer. Upon
this BASIS the minimum monthly
charge Of Toe which amounts to $8.40I
per year. will pay 1857 per cent on
the value Of the plant as fixed. This
Is PSF per cent above the sum allowed
by the Commission for depreciation
and net income. These two items be-
ing fixed at per cent, and 9 percent
of $72.58 is 1888. According to these
figures $1.S7 is taken from each con-
sumner per annum more than will pay
a net return of 81 per cent and per
cent for depreciation on the amount |
invested to serve him.
Regards Charge Excessive.
Under the facts I regard minimum i
monthly charge of zoe for gas as un-
fair and excessive BY such a charge
there is no inducement to conserve
the use Of gas below 1000 Gu. It. per
month. as the consumer must pay the
full price OF the first M. Gu. IT, per
month. even though he uses a less
amount It Is. however, regarded by
most persons familiar with such mat
tiers that some minimum monthly
charge Is proper, and In fact neces.
sary. in such service. but regard 500
per month as ample for such a charge,
as this will produce $500 per year
for each consumer. which is 8 per cent
on $500, which. as above stated, is
The average amount invested per con-
sumer
A minimum monthly charge of SOC
would produce annually 1920 on the
oasis OF the present number of con-
while such charge at roc
minimum will produce annu-
ally $4,000. This is more than one
half of the annual operating expenses
IS fixed by the Commission. which
Includes the sum paid for all gas pur.
,hasod. In 1915, this amount was $751;
'2067 to which is added as a portion
# this expense all of which believe
o he unjust. the following: I.
labor at works $957.7OI
Repairs at works and station
structures, ................. 541. so
Repairs Of furnaces, boilers and
accessories, ............. 500
Repairs of Holder and steam for
heating, 3O3.93
repairs of miscellaneous Equip
ment. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1922 !
Total Observation-Disclosures. $78,358.12
The total amount Of gas consumed l
nder the minimum charge and at the {
0c rate, could not exceed 100000 {
ubic feet per year, and In fact would q
e less as nearly 20 per cent Of the b
consumers on an average use less S
han 1000 Gu. it. per month, the same n
,ould not cost to exceed $17,11200l S