Norwich bulletin., 1917-05-17
Gas Plant Poorly Managed
! { coctinu.d from Page Fivs)


 to three times as many customers drawing the 25 cent minimum.
 If 50 cent minimum had been charged the extras for December. 1916, for both gas and electric, would have been $252.01-
 In view of the foregoing, we str'sng- ly recommend that not only the exist ing meter charge of 25 cents per month be retained on both the gas and electric, but that a total monthly minimum of 50 cents. including meter rental, be established for gas as well as for electric
 Electric Lighting Rates Low. The electric lighting rates at Nor wich are low and we consider the base rate should be increased from cents to 10 cents, the 5 cent quantity rate remaining as at present.
 The electric power rates are not only low but they are thoroughly -inconS16t- ent. Tn considering electric rates 1t should be borne in mind that the fun damental basis of establishing them is different from gas. in that an cleo tric power station must stand ready and have the generating capacity to deliver at a moments notice the en- tire instantaneous demand upon 1t and has no storage capacity such as gas holders in a gas plant. The obvious result Of this electric condition is to make long hour. users of electric en- ergy much more desirable than short
  reduced rates to power consumers, for they frequently use electric energy a nuci greater number of hours per day than electric residence lighting users.
 r. Increase Price of Gas. We consider the price of gas at Nor wich should he increased to $125 per NJ GU. 1t. for the first 500 O~M. GU. 1t. monthly, the wholesale rates to remain as at present All customers should | he <-1 a 1o a published tariff rates and no special contracts should be made. Oil for the water gas plant was pur- chased at 3.5 cents per gallon until tract expired. Oil was then pur- chased at 7-s cents per gallon and c years. contract has recently been signed for oil at 7-5 cents. Coal Materially Advanced. Until November 1915. the depart nnent purchased gas coal at s4.25 and steam coal at sS.s5 per ton f. 0. b that date the price of coal has mate rially advanced and during the pa st eight months the prices paid per ton of coal f. O. b. railroad siding at power station have been follows:
 Highest Lowest
 Price Price. Steam coal ......--.. $9-2o s7.2o Gas coal ............ S.So 1.35
 Tn view or these greatly increased prices in coal and oil. we consider the department is not only Justified in making the above named increases in the electriG and gas rates but that it is absolutely imperative that such in- creases should be made.
 The gas and Electric department is operated on the ba sis of three shifts of eight hours each and employees are paid time and a half for time and double time on Sundays.
 There is a nabsence of snap in the employees of both the gas and electric plants. Some of the men were smok ing and others were sitting down. and we observed posted at different places potices dated sometime back. to the effect that card playing must be dis continued It may be that some of the employees feel safe in their position. The. only way for any organization to become efficient is for the man in di- rect charge of the organization to have absolute authority to discharge and hire men. and to have every member of the organization to fully realize the same. The only that pep can be put into the organization of your Gas and Electric department is for the commissioners to hold Mfr Kel1oe er - suits of the Gas and Electric depart n1ent. to give him full authority to discharge any man and replace the hame without referring the matter to
  erty the size of Norwich should have q man manager who is experienced in the operation of both gas and cleo tric properties. and the salary of neighborhood of ss.6oo to s4.ooo per anrunl.
 Personnel of Employees.
 The time at our disposal did not permit our coming in contact with all of the employees of the department PAI1 ments upon those with whom we came in contact:
 MT. Kehoe. the superintendent, is industrious and conscientious in his v-ork and he has been handicapped by having too many details to look after and also by his being an electric man rather than a combination electric and gas man. We consider an op- portunity should be given MT. Kehoe to get the gas and electric property if he secures the desired and neces- sary re~.1lt he should be given a ma terial advance in salary. if he does not, a manager that can produce these results should be obtained.
 MT. Mather. the chief at the cleo tric power station. impressed us fla vorably. It would appear he has had experience in the operation of cleo that MT. Kehoe should hold him re- sponsible for all of the employees at the electric power station MT. Math- CT should also be held responsible for the proper maintenance of the cleo tric power station.
 ' Mir. Coscoran is under MT. Kehoe and Is directly in charge of the gas plant. We understand MT. Coscoran had no experience in the operation of a gas property prior to his present ap- pointnaent. We were. unable to ob- serve scarcely a single result in the operation of the sas property which indicates that Mir. Coscoran has been successful as a superintendent. The gas has not been norris if nov, being manufactured economically, and there has been a total absence in coInmer- cializing the Dy-produc of the gas plant We consider 1t unfair to the mushes and q variety Of other ways. We should make every effort to avail ourselves of it '.