Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-07
WINTHROP & wayne 1t. & power !
co. MUST FURNISH ELECTRICITY
0STURTEvANT HILL, WINTHROP

yearly total of $94.72 which the company
must pay out Of its profits. If each of
these eight families paid for light the
minimum Of $500 per year the profit OF.
this $500 would be $500, the company
paying five cents per kilowatt hour for
current and selling it for 10 cents. If
these eight use power to the amount of
S27.0O per year the profit on this will DO
$l0.l2 or 3-S of $500 the company buying
current at five, and selling at eight cents
for power. This total of s5s.12 deducted
from the above s94.72 leaves $3.50 which
the company must have in addition to its
expected profits under regular rates, or
$45S from each of the eight, resulting in
$l6.5S as the average sum each customer
must contribute
These figures are shown to be substan-
TALLY correct by the following table;
Table 8 - Amount Company Will Re.
ceive
Eight customers each at yearly
min. of $l65S, s132.6i
Amt. power customers will pay, 27.Oy
$685.,
Amount Company Must Receive
Interest ands depreciation, s94.72
Cost of furnishing $50 worth of
light current. $500
Cost of furnishing s27 worth of
power current 1888
1885,
How can it be arranged so that the
company may receive this amount. and
this group of people receive service so
that the cost to each one of the eight is
tc oOtn
worth under all the circumstances? 1t ap
pears that the company at one time sug-
gested that these prospective customers
should furnish the poles. This method
was sometimes formerly employed in ef-
fecting electric light extensions to some
what isolated communities. Nearly all
commissions now feel that 1t is better
that each utility should own all the facili-
ties it employs in the service OF the pub
lie. There may be some necessary eXcep-
tons to this general rule, but in the pres
ent Gaze we feel that the company should
build and own this entire extension. ii
built.
1t is not, in our judgment, practical for
the company to attempt to charge each
of Xhese eight people d yearly minimum
few lights and no power equipment, al
though each is willing to pay the mini
mum of one dollar per month, Others
will put in and use from % to Is lights,
MIR. Hudson testified that his present bill
for kerosene averages $500 per month,
and assumably he would be willing to
pay approxind ely that amount for cur
rent Mr. Chdf chill runs a small sum-
mer hotel, and expects to put in - lights.
So that some. Iof these customers will
have use for CLERGY costing largely in ex-
ess of s16.5S per year while others will
,robably never exceed the minimum.
We therefore feel that the company and
hese customers should enter into written
ontracts by the terms of which the COM
any will build the line and these eight
ersons will oblgate themselves to pay
, the company s159.6o each year. each to
,ay such portion of this total as his use
and needs seem to warrant. this amount
to constitute his minimum charge and
each to pay the regular rate for all cur
rent used in excess; regular schedule
rates for all power in excess OF a COM
bined yearly use of an amount OF S2'.o0
These contracts. when reduced to form,
must be submitted to this commission as
the basis of a final order.
The case will be held upon pending ne
gotiations between the parties. 1t is sug-
gested that petitioners and the company
report to us, in writing, not later than
November Is, 1916. what progress has been
made.
AS to the length of time the above
named contract should run, consideration
must be given. the circumstances of this
case. Here Are eight customers and
there will probably be no more than
eight. A fire might reduce the number.
We cannot tell, nor can the company tell
at this time. whether the extension under
the above terms will be Se!f-supportins
or otherwise. And II we should order the
company to make the extension and enter
into contract with these eight pros
poets" for a short term and the company.
at the end of year or two, would find
that they were meeting with a loss, it
would still have this transmission line
upon its hands and might not be able to
make a new contract which would make
the line self-supporting. On the other
bind themselves at the present time to
the payment OF a yearly amount which
may be more than the company requires
to pay Its interest. depreciation and main