The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-08-25
COMPANY
HIGHLY LAUDED BY
PUBLIC UTILITIES
Chairman Of Commission Says
City To Be Congratulated
IS On Service Given
MANAGEMENT IS EXCELLENT
AND RATES FOR JUICE CUT
Plant In Fine Shape and En-
pIoyes Thoroughly Satisfied,
Asserts Report

BY both the written and the spoken
word the public utilities commission
yesterday offered high praise and com
mendation in behalf of the Hawaiian
Electric Company, for its businesslike
methods, its management in general and
the conscientious, fair.minded way it
has served the public of Honolulu.
The occasion was the reading and
adoption of findings on the company's
business, prepared by Charles r. Forbes,
chairman Of the board The written re-
| port haaped encomiums upon the public
service corporation. Speaking to the
subject, Chairman Forbes said in add
tion. -
Management Is Excellent ,. .,
"Nothing throughout the course of
our careful, thorough investigation of
its plant, its books and its service, dis
closed anything that called for criti
cism. We even asked patrons and
sought as much as possible to- find any
who might have complaint but we're not
successful in locating kicks. .,H1 =.
at is true that rates for electric
juice are lower on the Coast than here
but the local company has far differ
mt conditions to meet and so far as
apparent the rates in operation are alb
solutely fair and reasonable in every re-
spect. III '. o.
"The corporation is planning and
making large extensions into the outer
districts, necessitating financial outlay
! that it cannot get back in many years;
thus showing that it seeks to give its
service to as many citizens of the com
mufiity as possible"
Rates Have Been Reduced
The written findings show that tho
corporation has reduced it's rates from
ten to eight cents per kilowat, "nOt.
| withsta nding that the company has in
anticipation the reconstruction of it's
entire plant and an extension Of it's
service" The report continues: "
"The company has entered into
agreements with the army and navy Of
fcials to extend its lines and supply
electric light and power to the naval
station and Fort Kamehn meha at Pearl
HarbOr, and SchOfeld Barracks at Cast.
ner. Z"
Discussing rates the commission
chairman says in his findings that the
establishment of rates which are GER
tain 70 be equitable to both consumer
and the company Is an exceedingly diff.
hcult one in the case of electric com
panies because the elements to be con.
sidered are so diverse.
Present Rate Satisfactory
But in the present instance the rate
after deep study, has appeared to be
satisfactory. The commission finds, in
addition that:
cts plant is kept in excellent repair,
that its employees are satisfied with their
surroundings, their wage scale, and
their hours of labor, and that the CON
lpany has developed, in the matter Of
electric energy, service to the people
of Honolulu, equal to any similar insti
tuition on the mainland.
| "Until physical valuation of the
plant has been made, IL will be impos-
lisible for the commission to 4determine
whether there should be any further
reduction ihrates. 500.
Books In Excellent Shape
"The condition Of the books and ac.
counts is UNUSUALLY good. Investiga.
tons show that all items of expense
connected with the institution have
been well kept, together with the vouch.
Ecrs which accurately reveal the OUTLAWS
which the company has made in public
serviee. There appears to be no un'
| certainty about the matter, as examina
tions show that the company has sue
tceeded in evolving or adopting a sys-
| "em of accounting that has enabled the
commission to make it's investigation
without the usual necessary annoyance
encountered in examining the affairs of
public utility corporations. :
"In the matter of physical valuation
and depreciation, the company is now
engaged in the preparation of this re-
!port,
Valuation Still Pending
"The value of the plant in great
measure plays an important part, in
the rates charged for current consumed
and this commission will not attempt
the physical valuation Of the utility un.
til the utility has submitted a physical
value. With this report the commits
sion will be confronted with the funda.
mental question of determining the act
ual amount of the investment upon
which a reasonable return and rates
can be Wade.
awe still give chief weight and i'm.
lportance TO the actual cost to the com
psny within recent period as will be
designated by their report on dePrGcia
j ton"