Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1918-04-05
March 20 1918
Notice To Consumers

y,
Division. has recently been granted an increase in
electric by the Corporation Commission of Ok
lahona. The rates are to be effective April l.
1918 and all bills rendered in May. applying to
sumption during April. will take the higher rate
The Company has asked for and secured this in
crease by reason of the increased costs of fuel
t,rias and labor With the rates under which the
Company has been operating its earnings have been
decreasing alarmngly Since February. 1917, the
Company has not been able to earn bond interest.
and in IN" months of July August September. and
October the operating expenses before detucng
buud interest exceeded the Companys revenue. Were
this condition to continue. the Company would be
unable to furnish adequatr service. and would be
forced into serious financial ditfiCutieS
1t is vitality necessary to the communities served
that public utilities secured in their earnings a,
this tim" to assure tn" consumers of adequate
SrNic" when such s"rvc" is essential to the success
lul prosecution OF tn" war In applying to the Cor
I'oraion Commission for increased rates the Com
any was acting not only for its own benefit. but fur
tn" benefit of the communities which, it supplies.
As outlined in its petition To the Corporate Com
mission. and as verified by tn" evidence introduced
IN" increased rates ar" not sufficient make up til"
entire deficit due to the increased costs Under pres
"nt conditions the deficit after paying bond interest
for the year l"lN would approXimat" $3o,Go0 Based
ON III" sales for the year 1917 it is imated thai
IN" lhfTlSe IN revenue for the year due TO the in
creased rates would not exceed $2O.0no. The Com
any WILL therefore, still fail earn it's bond inter
est by about $ln""o unless il effect economics
in operation. 1t is The hope of the Company to do
to- which il might fairly have been entitled While
the cost OF labor and all materials have increased
1liln& IN" past year. tn" increase in rates granted
=" IN" company would just about take care of the
increased cost of fuel and the Company is bearing
IN" loss from other increased costs Thus the COS,
Oh mel per k.W.li. sold in February. 1917 was
H''''4 per NV ILL., sold. whereas in September 1911
IN" cost OF tu" per K.W.lI sold was SOO4l This in
crease of S"o2 per K.WII sold is greater than tn"
aN"rag" increase allowed carious rates i'm ef-
l''' ana Is almost as great the maximum in
crease allowed by tn" Commission in any one class
of service.
This rat" adjustment is ten,porarv only II has
pee" 'he experience of utility companies that they
H' serve 'he public as we'll as their own interests
"heh the rates are as low is consistent with fair
,''"'" on 'he investment. The Consumers Light 4
ROVER company in reducing its rates to secure such
..'''"St" business had, of course not figured con-
'l'S'','hS and consequently found itself i'm a ser
Io'S situation du" to the low rates ot which il was
furnishing service " '''>" " Vs.
1'!'e , 'he operation OF this company was taken ov-
h,.n sn, te.t t III, o~ners large sums of money have
-, ' p npn' III rehablitating and extending the PLAN
' ,u!an' ana IN running transmission lines To
",'S"porihS towns. To keep pace with the growth
-, ' Wv u,'''",E .he Company must further be ready
, W. p"''"' tdoliona capital for extensions over
WHAT mas already been invested hero Tba l,on,
pa'E ieelS that its interests and tboco ~, ,ho t n
''l"h' are one and that it is incumbent unon the
v,mnan," " W. l'H snare toward the growth and ad
~ ~, ,,irn' i ol inns territory by keeping its plant
al d" INES al Il nigh standard of operatinp effcien-
'!' ana ny being ready to supply service wharever
I' service VIII assist in building p the territory
,Irs, % w. ,'''''eSts Oh the city and the Company SO
can ,noii, IT. Is quite apparent that the Company
',a any take no steps to advance it's own inter
o'le "hch 90 not at the same time advance tbo in
''reS's Oh the communities served ~ "
'eSlec''u'ly submitted for your consideration.