Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-12-20
INVESTIGATING POSSIBILITY
or HEATING BY ELECTRICITY

Boise. Dee. l6.-The first hearing
in the northwest on the subject of +
general heating by use of electrical +
energy In on in this city. 1t was con-
yened on the initiative Of the Idaho
public utilities commission ana no /
doubt certain startling ana WHO /
statements made during the recent /
campaign had something to do with
the action of the commission, Wnlcn
could not, OF course take up the mat
ter during the campaign. The COM
vniaion invited all power companies
and all citizens having any informa-
ton on the subject to be present.
Al special invitation was sent to
Toe Burns. who campaigned the state
for the NOn-partisan league and
made sensational statements about
the validity and cost Of power, but
he did not appear. The commission
sent a subpoena for him with state
ment 1t would pay his expenses. 10
ID contended that Burns has no real
knowledge OF the subject and that
his statements were without fOunda-
tfon In fact and made for political
purposes as well as to deliberately
disseminate misinformatfon. Ray Nc
Kaig, another Non-partisan league
agent, also made statements that the
commission may ask him to explain.
Every bit of available knowledge lib
sought and the evidence comes not
only from power Companies but from
professors OF leading colleges, where
they hold chairs of electrical engin-
eering and physics.
Not Enough Power.
DIR. Merrill, professor of electrical
engineering OF the University OF
Utah, testified that II all the power
available In Snake river. from Amer
lean Falls west. and tributaries and
springs were used exclusively for
heating purposes there would not be
Every bit OF available knowledge is
that district, irrespective OF cost. He
supported his statement with detail
ed and authenticated figures.
Cost Per KilIowatt.
II was brought out by various en-
gineers that the cost per kilowatt OF
producing juice In this territory was
over $40 at the present time. This
was the cost TO the Idaho Power COM
pany and included only operating,
maintenance and taxes and not inter-
est on the investment or deprecia-
ton.
The cost OF supplying Juice for the
average house Of five rooms was Civ
en- at $500 TO s425 year, depending
on winter climatic conditions, al
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-
tions az to use of coduits, etc.
II. M. Ferguson, electrical engin.
eer OF the Utah Power q Light com
pany, testified that IL the entire ca
pacity OF Its best plant, at Grace
were used for heating purposes alone
cutting Off lights and pawer for indus
trial purposes, II would not be sufh
cietn to heat more than 100 of tht
1892 houses of McCammon, Sodt
Springs, Bancroft, Georgetown, Mont
pelier and Paris.
The managers OF small electro
plants ali declared 1t would be i'm
practical to furnish electric energ.
for heating In their territory at an,
cost. The capacities we're not sum
ciant and the available water poWe
to be developed would not bring then
up to meet general demand. Som
said they had surplus power that
used under c0mpulsion for heating
irrespective OF price, would depriv
industry. and especially mining, Q
needed power at seasonable period
and their communities or many thou
sands of dollars.