The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-09-16
STATE OF INDIANA

STATE OF INDIANA
Public Service Commission Of Indiana.
In the matter Of the application Of
the Richmond Light, Heat and Power
Company for authority to revise gas
rates.
No. 2013
On the 23rd day Of December, 1915,
the Richmond Light, Heat and Power
Company filed with this Commission a
petition, which alleges that said COM
pany is corporation, organized under
the laws of the State of Indiana, with
it's principal place of business in the
City of Richmond: that it is a public
utility engaged in supplying gas and
electricity for purposes of light heat
and power, in said city and territory
contiguous thereto; that for about
twenty years prior to July %, 1913.
the petitioner owned and operated in
said City plant for the manufacture
and distribution Of artificial gas to
its patrons under a franchise granted
by said City; that for many years
prior to 1910, natural gas was sold and
distributed by the Richmond Natural
Gas Company, in competition with Pc
titioner's service; that natural gas be-
came exhausted in said City about
1910, and this petitioner acquired by
purchase said natural gas distributing
system and attached the same to its
artificial gas distributing system; that
from 1910 to July, 1913. petitioner had
no natural gas competition, but on the
22nd day Of July. 1913. the Allegheny
Gas Company filed with this Commits
sion a petition against the petitioner,
alleging that said Allegheny Gas Com
pany was seeking license, permit or
franchise for the furnishing and dis
tribution of natural gas In said city In
competition with this petitioner; that
the Board Of Public Works expressed
its willingness and desire to grant the
permit prayed for; that contract was
entered into by said City and said Al
legheny Gas Company subject to the
approval of this Commission; that said
Allegheny Gas Company requested the
Public Service Commission Of Indiana
to approve said proposed franchise;
that to prevent threatened competition
and for the preservation OF Its own
properties this company was obliged
to pay such prices and accept such
terms as said Allegheny Gas Company
and the Logan Natural Gas and Fuel
Company would accord It; that as
condition to making contract with
said Logan Natural Gas Company, this
petitioner was obliged to adopt and
nut in force a schedule of rates, tolls
and charges for natural gas as fol-
lows:
First 5000 cubic feet, Acc per NJ net.
Next $4,000 cubic feet, 35c per NJ,
net.
Excess over 100000 cubic feet, soc
per M. net.
That such proceedings were had
Minimum monthly charge SOC.
that on or about August 6, 1913, this
Commission found and determined
that public convenience and necessity
required the construction of a natural
gas plant and distribution system in
said city; consented to and approved
the assignment by the Allegheny Gas
Company to this petitioner Of its
license, permit or franchise; approved
the use of the distribution system Of
the petitioner as a natural gas distribu.
ton system; approved the mainten-
ance by this petitioner in state of re-
pair and efficiency, Of its gas manu-
featuring plant in said city as means
of assuring to petitioners patrons, an
adequate supply of artificial gas in the
event of unavoidable exhaustion or in
terruption in the supply Of gas; that
thereupon the petitioner entered upon
the work of readjusting it's gas dis
tributing system and the construction
and acquisition Of such new works and
appliances as to enable it to enter up
on the service Of supplying natural gas
to said city, and proceeded under said
contract to supply natural gas to said
city and its inhabitants.
That said natural gas rates were
largely experimental and were based
upon the expectation and belief that
on account of greatly reduced rates for
natural gas as compared with the rates
heretofore in force for artificial gas,
there would be large increase in the
consumption: that petitioner has out
standing capital securities and obliga-
tons as follows:
First mortgage bold bonds 5 100000
Preferred stock .......... $4,000
Common stock ............. 5000
Demand notes amman. $4,000
Total .................. 81 1927 900
That three-fourths Of the above Sc
curities are by the petitioner apper-
toned to the gas and the residue to
the electric utility; that the total
amount of gas sold for the year 1915,
was 315,201. 900 cubic feet; that the
total revenues derived therefrom was
$124,1123S; that after deducting the
operating expenses the remainder is
wholly inadequate to pay the fixed
charges, including a small amount for
depreciation and yield return on the
amount of the investment and that the
petitioner should be authorized to put
in force the schedule of rates for natA
ural gas as follows:
First 1000 GU. it., gross rate per M.
Gu. it., soc.
Next 5000 Gu. it.. gross rate per M.
Gu it., 60c.
Next 5000 Gu it., gross rate per M. |
Gu. it., 45c.