Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1917-01-24
ORDERS ALL DAY SERVICE
UTILITY COMMISSION LOWERS
RATES A TRIFLE

RATES A TRIFLE
Decision in the Electric Light Case
is Filed After Year of Inves-
tigation
After nearly year of complaints,
hearings, delibers.tiun and inYestiga-
ton, the state railroad commission
has finally filed its report in the case
of the City of Niroqua vs.the Viroqua
Electric Light Goa comprehensive
document of twelve typewriter pages,
which reviews every phase of the
question, orders continuous service
and lowers both the street and com
merCial lighting schedules.
THE COMMERCIAL RATES
The city of Viroqua, by its Mayor
and council, filed complaint with the
commission on February "a, of last
year, contending that the rates charg-
ed by the company we're unreasopabl
and uniustly discriminatory against
the small user. The complaint was
again presented by the present city
officials May Is. The rate complained
of was:
Up to 10 kwt hours per hour ...............2 Zoe
10 to ~ kwt hours ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. lsc
20 to 80 kwt. hours .......,................. l5c
Over 90 kwt hours .....................-.l2 s2c
After the complaint was filed, the
company revised its schedule and
placed the following rate in effect:
First 50 kwt. hours ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. l5c
Next % kwt. hours .,..,,.....,-.......,.- .l2'Yc
AL over 100 kwt. hours ................- lOe
The change made by the commission
is very slight the first so reduced to
lac, the second so to l2c, over 100 not
changed. Minimum monthly bill re-
mains at $l.00. An extra charge of
one cent is added to the above rates,
all bills made out on that basis, and
the amount deducted at the time
of payment, providing bill is paid with
in ten days of its date. Flat rates
must be discontinued aud all custom
ers placed on meter.
STREET. LIGHTING
The 124 arc lights in the city have
been reduced from S26. 10 per lamp to
$25, yearly saving of $l36 40. The
twelve all-night white way lamps were
cut from 800 to $50 per year, a re-
duction of S240 total S376.40 The
charge for the white way lamps which
are turned off at midnight remains
the same $50 per year per lamp.
POWER RATES
The commission places the energy
charge for power purposes at
First 900 kwt. hours per mo. per hour ...... Sc
Next 2n kwt. hours ---..,........... &c
Next 200 kwt hours ..............,....-..5 fec
All over 900 kwt. hours. ................,.-.. &c
In order to take advantage of this
rate. motors must be on different cir
cult from the lights, and power must
not be used ''over the peak, that is,
when the current is being used for
lighting purposes from 1870 to 1000
p. m. during October to March, inclu-
sive, and from 600 to 1000 p. m. dur
ing A pril to November, inclusive. son
peak service is one cent higher than
above rate. minimum charge of
Sl00 per month for the first , h. p. or
fraction thereof and soc for each adj
ditional horsepower, is held to be rea-
sonable.
CONTINUOUS SERVICE
Such tests shall be made and such
equipment added to the plant as viii
render it able TO supply the city with
reasonably adequate continuous ser
vice, ninety Gays being deemed rea-
sonable time to comply with the or
der. Oyerhauing the steam unit,
providing better cooling facilities for
the gas unit, and installing a voltage
regulator are mentioned as necessary
to successful all-day service.
To those who may feel that the rates
ordered by the commission are too
high, we quote from the report:
While the rates as outlined may still
appear to be somewhat high. it is be-
lieved that they are as low as is con
sistent with fairness 10 the company
In view of fact thatcontinuouss service
will be supplied, and further in view
of the fact that certain changes in
the plant are necessary, a further re-
duction at this time is inadvisable.
1t is only just and fair to the com
pany to say that many changes and
improvements have been made with
all-day service 10 view, and that this
service was to have been voluntarily
put into effect last November but the
coal famine made il impossible, Man
ager Balsley informs US that it is inn
possible to procure soft coal 10 oper-
ate the steam unit, and were il not
for fortunate purchase Of several
cars of hard coal to operate the gas
plant Just before the pinch came, Vi
roqua would now be without lights
If the situation remains unchanged
at the end of ninety days, it is newt
able that an extension of time be re-
quested Should the coal situation
clear up before ninety days, continu-
Gus service will be inaugurated soon
or.
1t is hoped and believed that users
of power within the city viii welcome
and avail themselves of the arrange
ment soon to take effect, ailording the
company that just and equitable vol
ume of business which will render the
new accommodation properly profita-
BILE
VALUATION OF THE PLANT
Not the least interesting part Of the
report is the mass of statistics cover.
ing every part of the companY's in
vestment and business during the past
four years. The valuation Of the plant
on July L. 1916 is given as 80, 1873.
The reproduction cost, less deprecia-
tiOn, is placed at 1872, $50.
Training School Notes
Mid-year examinations this week
New term opens January p.
Dr. VIM. Trowbridge has given al