The sun., 1918-11-25
GAS RANGE RENTALS.
They Begin April Due 70 the Fact
That People Cook with Gas In sum
mer Only.

To THE EDITOR OF THE suN--sir: For
the enlightenment of your correspondent
who subscribes himself as "StunG." and
who complains that because bills for
the rental OF gas ranges a-e rendered
for the period of one year on Apr, 1
Of each year. and that therefore the
consumer who moves on September 1
following receives no "credit for the six
months afte. the latter date, nor will
the gas companies remove a range from
one address to another, and that II Ia
necessary to contract for a range at the
new address, paying a full years rental.
which OF course entails a small, hardly
mentionable loss to the individual con-
sumner but collectively hands the gas
companies a large revenue. for which
they give nothing in return" l refer TO
a statement published at the time the
matter OF the gas companies practice
was the subject of a review by the Pub
lie Service Commission:
The Public Service Commission this
week rescinded Its demand of April 30,
1915, that the Consolidated Gas Company
arrange Its rental period for gas ranges
so as to make leases for year from
october instead OF from April I. The
gas company, however, adduced facts
showing that 80 per cent. of Its consumers
used their gas ranges for only six months
during the summer; SO that by making It's
leases commence October 1 the season
Of demand covering the summer months
would have passed. and the ranges would
therefore be rented only for six months
and the rental charges would either b
heavily increased or the company would
do away with renting OF ranges entirely
II this decision were to be mads by tbs
company, II became evident after thor
! ough investigation Of the facts that this
expense to property owners for purchasing
ranges would amount to a great deal more
than the annual. rental charge to-day
The Advisory Council opposes the decision
because the facts proved that the smaller
property owner. whose tenants remained ir
the city during the summer months would
! have a heavier rental charge to sustain.
Your correspondent Is incorrect In his
statement that the consumer receives nc
credit for the unexpIred portion OF the
rental year. II the range is rented to
, his successor. which Is almost invariably
the case IL IL IL left In a condition a
70: use, the amount collected from the
successor covering such unexpired por-
| ton of the year Is refunded to the
| original renter.
1t is not a fact that the gas COM
! panies will not remove a range from one
address to another They are always
willing to do 80 providing the customer
pays the expense OF such removal.
II Is a misstatement OF the fact e
say that the hardly mentionable loss &c
the individual is a source of revenue &c
the companies, except as the entire
years rental may be construed as a loss
to the consumer. The fact that the con.
sinner discontinues the use OF the range
adds nothing 10 the company's revenue.
Finally. a consumer who Is dlssatis.
| fed with the terms upon which ranges
are rented has the privilege of buying
and owning his own range and doins
with It as he likes. The investment in.
volved Is no considerable amount, not.
withstandlng which several hundred
thousand consumers prefe- renting theil
appliances. and without complaint
! ROBERT f LIyISGsT oN,
Consolidated Gas Company OF New Yorl
New YoRK. November 20