Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-09
Public Utilities Commission
Of the District Of Columbia,
Washington, D. c.
Gentlemen

Gentlemen:
By Of the large increased cost for the past more
of all raw materials entering the manufacture of OF labor
Of maintenance Of property and the Washington Gas Light
Company compelled ask of rate to be charged
to gas consumers of the District of Columbia
Between Juy 1901 and September l. 1916 the lawful rate
fixed by Act Congress- which the Washington Gas Light Company
was authorized charge private the District OF Column
ba was one dollar per thousand cubic feet The Gas Company
however during the years 9O9f9 made voluntary reductions
the price Of Gus private from dollar to ninety cents
and from ninety egve cents the latter rate being the
rate charged until October l. 1916 During said period and until
August 1917 undertook pay and did its shareholders
so upon what the of the reduction rate to eihve
cents considered conservative and fair value of its property used
and useful the conduct Of its business The Company thought that
by said reduction sales would
such extent that the would be maintained or
increased but the sales of gas did accordance with
effected only the manufacture Of but all
and thereof during the period from about the hrst OF jan
uary 1911 until about the FIRST Of October 1916 the receipts from
gas sales the hve cent rate to private about
enabled the Company to put and plant the best possible
condition. pay shareholders go what believed to be
the fair value of its property at the time said reduction price was
made and give the public good and adequate That
the service adequate and satisfactory indicated BY the
markedly few complaints the Company received during said period
During the time when the Commission apprasns the
erty Of Washington Light Company and few months prior
to its final order fixing fair amount which should represent
basis for there inserted the District of Columbia APP
preparation Bill which became law September 1916 the fol-
lowing:
e.; g. & s Els;
for gas furnished by said IN
buildings District
cubic feet.
O. ss w.; IT, s sy f Gs :sn s s. s:
collect for furnished Of
Columbia shah pay monthly gas bill within
after the shall been presented said
charge and collect from failing
said q: bill aforesaid additional for
ded further That nothing
- limiting taking OF the vested by
law in the Public Utilities Commission Of
lumhia.
By this law there only reduction the of
the Company of about l2o. but became effective the very
beginning shortly subsequent thereto of the increased Of la
Dor and Of all materials entering the manufacture of gas
Believing the fixed by this should be enforced
that the from the sales of gas would be insufficient pay
operative and other expenses incident the manufacture of gas
bonded Indebtedness and the rate of return to
its stockholders which had heretofore been paying since about
November 1910 the Company requested the Commission under
date Of September 49, 1916 its order continuing the eighty
hive cent rate to private until after the completion of
the appemnt Of the of the Company and the fixing of
its fair value basis for The Commission declined
to grant this request of the Company but later suggested that
trial Of be made by the Gas Company under the seventy
hive cent rate which has accordingly been done The result
trial under the rates fixed by said statute was loss in re-