The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-05-02
MUST MEET INCREASED COSTS
Rates as Fixed by Commission Will Be
come Effective at Once - Commits
sion Orders Meters for All Service
Given by City Plant.

The Wisconsin Railrad Commission
today handed down decision fixing
the rates to be charged for weter sup
piled by the city plant. The rates as
fixed are practically the rates applied
for by the Board Of Water Commits
sioners some time ago.
The decision in the case is one of
the longest decisions ever written by
the Railroad Commission and it covers
a lot of historical matter connected
with the Kenosha municipal water
plant. It shows the reasons for ad-
vanced rates and has many interesting
tables to show just why it has been
The part of the decision of particu-
lar interest to the people Of Kenosha
is as follows:
1T will be noted that the present
schedule for metered consumers to-
gether with the fat rates then in effect
produced actual cash receipts during
the year ended June 30, 1917, in the
neighborhood of $4,000 With the
placing of all consumers, public and
private, upon the metered basis, and
with the increase in the number Of CON
sumers and the probable increase also
in actual amount of water consumed it
would no doubt furnish revenues,
nearly if not equal to the above
figure Of $63,187.
The schedule which the city in its
petition seeks to place in effect, would
with the 1900 takers reported as exist
ing June 80, 1917, and a consumption
equal to that of the last fiscal year,
produce revenues amounting to nearly
$88, However, it seems evident
that if it were actually placed in eff
feet, the greatly increased expense to
which it would place the large taker
would cause him to greatly curtail or
completely abandon his supply Of water
from the city and the revenues actually
resulting, therefore, would be very
materially less than estimated. The
schedule then, besides theoretically
furnishing much larger revenues than
seems to be needful at this time, would,
if placed in effect, tend to defeat the
purpose for which it was designed.
The rates as fixed by this decision
will provide for an increase in rates to
both large and small consumers in pro-
portion to what appears to be the
proper distribution Of the cost of serv-
ice. Revenues to be provided by this
schedule should be sufficient, if condi-
tions continue as at present, to take
care of all requirements of the utility
and the increase is as great as we
believe should. fairly be put into eff
feet under present conditions.
1t is very strongly recommended
that the city provide for paying an in
creased hydrant rental. On the most
conservative estimate the cost of this
service, after offsetting taxes which
the city might charge against the plant,
will be between $4,000 and $4,000
per year. This charge should be con-
strued to cover the water used for
| flushing sewers. In view of the fact
that the city has virtually set the
water utility apart as a separate entity
and is requiring it ultimately to carry
its own financing, it appears only rea-
sonable that the city should pay the
cost of the service rendered to it and
we believe that an agreement should
be reached between the city and the
water commission providing an increas-
ed charge for fire protection. All other
municipal services should be charg-
ed for in accordance with the terms
of the order.
Tt Is Therefore Ordered, That the
city of Kenosha as a water utility shall
discontinue its present schedule of
rates and substitute therefore the
| following schedule:
First 5000 cubic feet per half
year, $1.20 per NJ cubic foot.
Next 5000 cubic feet per alf
| year, 85c per NJ cubic foot.
Next 10000 cubic feet per half
/ year, Csc per NJ cubic foot.
Next $4,000 cubic feet per half
| year, 55c, pei NJ cubic foot.
Next 100000 cubic feet per half
/ year, 45c per NJ cubic foot.
| Next 10000 cubic feet per half
| year, 40c per NJ cubic foot.
Next 100000 cubic feet, per half
| year, Soc per NJ cubic foot
|
CONTINUED on page Il