The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1918-12-17
ELECTRIC HEATING
COST PR0H|B|T|vE
HEARING NOW IN PROGRESS AT
BOISE NOW DEVELOPS FACT
THAT COAL is CHEAPER

BOISE, Idaho-The first hearing
in the northwest on the subject Of
general heating by use of electrical
energy is on in this city. 1t was con-
vened on the initiative of the Idaho
public utilities commission and no
doubt certain startling, and wild
statements made during the recent
campaign had something to do with
the action of the commission, which
could not of course take up the mat
ter during the campaign. The COM
mission invited all power companies
and all citizens having any informa
ton on the subject to be present.
A special invitation was sent to
Joe Burns, who campaigned the state
for the nonpartizan league and made
sensational statements about the avail
ability and cost of power, but he did
not appear. The commission sent a
subpoena for him with statement
it would pay his expenses. 1t is con-
tended that Burns has no real know
ledge of the subject and that his
statements were without foundatio in
fact and made for political purposes
as we'll as to deliberately disseminate
transformation. Ray McKaig, an
other nonpartizosn league agent, also
made statements that the commission
may ask him to explain. Every bit
of available knowledge is sought and
the evidence comes not only from
power companies but from professors
of leading colleges, where they hold
chairs of electrical engineering and
physics.
Not Enough Power.
Dr. Merrill, professor of electrical
engineering of the University of Utah,
testified that if all the power avail
able in Snake river, from American
Falls west, and tributaries and
springs, were used exclusively for |
heating purposes there would not be
enough to supply the population in
that district, irrespective of cost. He |
supported his statement with detailed |
and authenticated figures.
Cost Per KilOwatt.
1t was brought out by various en-
gineers that the cost per kilowatt
of producing juice in this territory
was over 500 at the present time.
This was the cost to the Idaho Power
company and included only operating,
maintenance and taxes and not in
terest on the investment or depreci-
alton.
The cost of supplying juice for the
average house of five rooms was
given at $500 to SAP year, depend
ing on winter climatic conditions, as
against around $50 for coal.
The cost of installing the necessary
wiring and heaters was generally
agreed to be 5000 to $500 for each
house, depending upon local regula-
lions as to use of conduits, etc.
Results From Grace Plant.
H. M. Ferguson, electrical engineer
Of the Utah Power & Light company,
testified that if the entire capacity
of it's best plant, at Grace, were used
for heating purposes alone, cutting off
lights and power for industrial pur-
poses, it would not be sufficient to
heat fore than 100 of the 1882 houses
Of McCammon, Soda Springs, Ban
croft, Georgetown, Montpelier and
Paris.
Would Deprive Industries.
The managers of small electric
plants all declared it would be i'm
practical to furnish electric energy
FOR heating in their territory at any
cost. The capacities were not suffici-
ent and the available water power to
De developed would not bring them
Up to meet a general demand. Some
said they had surplus power that if
lsed under compulsion for heating,
irrespective of price, would deprive
industry, and especially mining, of
needed power at seasonable periods {
md their communities of many l
thousands of dollars.