Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-08
CITY ELECTRIC PLANT
may. SELL SURPLUS POWER
administrative Board Recommends
~ That City Council Adopt Prop
Obs err Ordinance.
MILL SELL CURRENT CHEAPER
Board Believes II Can UndcrscIl Nir-
giuia Railway and Power Com
pany and Net City $4,000 IN.
nuully.


pany and Net City $4,000 Au-
nuully.
Carrying ont the suggestion made 10
yha Council Committc. on Finance
Wien IN. increased tax rate was un-
der discussion The Administrative
BOARD yesterday recommended 10 the
Sity Council that the municipal cleo
Uric plant he permitted to sell it's sur
plus 4-currcn;. This radical departure
WasE Recommended in an effort to use
tho current now being produced by the
rlant, but which is not used by the
city in the day time
The board would sell the city's out
but 10 private consumers or 10 any ono
making application for electricity
Since the ordinance creating the nuni-
eipal plan, some years ago provided
that current WAS TO be utilized only
10y the city government. additional
legislation by the City Council is nee
essary before the plant may compete
with public service corporations With
only n slight expenditure. the city
would earn Approximately $4,000 am
nually 1t is estimated by the sale OF
its surplus output.
The resolution was offered BY Chair
man John HirSchberg. who made this
suggestion TO the Finance Committee.
and was unanimously adopted by the
George AinSlie 10 be transmitted to the
Board Of Aldermen at the regular meet
Ing Tuesday night Along with the
, resolution will be transmitted an or
dinance which If adopted will carry
into effect the plan OF the board.
PLAN WOULD NET CITY
ABOUT 10000 ANNUALLY
This ordinance is az follows:
IAN ordinance to authorize the pur-
chase of electric current for the use
of the City Electric Plant and the sale
of electric current by the said plant.
"Ee II ordained by the
1) THAT the Administrative Board
be and Is hereby authorized and en-
powered to enter into contract. or
contracts, with any person. firm cor
poration. for the purchase OF cleo
lricity to supplement the supply OF cur
rent generated by the City Electric
Plant, or for the sale OF any electric
current generated by the said plant
which is not al the time Of entering
into said contract or contracts utilized
or needed for tie lighting and power
requirements Of tAe city streets. parks.
public buildings. or othc- city depart
mcnts. The said contracts to he made
unon such terms and conditions a. may
appear to the best interest OF the city,
but no such contract shall he entered
into for a longer period than one year,
renewable annually.
"ta) All ordinances or parts OF ordi-
uanccs are hereby repealed in SO far
az. the same may conflict herewith.
"t&) This ordinance shall be in force
from lis passage"
superintendent f. w. Trafford. OF the
cay Electric Plant. estimated yester-
day afternoon that approximately
100000 kilowatts OF electric current
could be produced by the plant for
sale annually. On the basis OF the rate
tentatively suggested by the Admins
;rativc Board. which is cent per
kilowatt hour, this surplus electricity
would net tho city OF Richmond $40, 600
annually. II was also pointed out that
this sum would he received by the
city with practically no additional eN-
penditure. since this current Is now
going to waste. ], would be necessary
10 cXpcnd about $4,000 on The plant.
however. to make this possible
SALE OF ELECTRIC CIRRENT
LONG: UNDER CONSIDERS TION
With the municipal plant used OK
clusiVe!y for stree; Lighting and to
supply small amount OF electricity
for municipal purposes, there are few
demands made upon the plant in day
light hours. Practically It's entire load
is during the nighttime, despite the
fact that the plant - in continuous
opcratios." Members OF the board yes
tcrday- pointed out that manufacture
ing plants operate III the daytime and
consume large quantities OF electricity.
They believed that some plan should
he worked on, by which the city could
dispose of its surplus current
This matter has been under consid-
Grafton for some time, but action was
not crystalliZed until IN. Finance Com
rc:ttce. in its original budget for this
year, proposed general 10 per cent
Increase in the tax rates The sale
OF electricity was immediately sUa-
Eested to the committee, and with other
economies worked out an increase in
taxes was not found necessary.
In event the ordinance is approved
by the Council the city wiz enter into
competition with tho Virginia Ran.
way and Power Company. private
corporation ana the only company sun
plying electricity Tor commercial! r,ur-
poses About two years ago the Viz
sinia Railway ana Power Company
suggested 10 the Administrative Board
that an agreement he entered into hv
which the traction company ana the
city would exchange current; Terms
satisfactory to the Administrative
Board were never offered. it waa
stated
Members OF me hoard declare the
city can sci! electricity cheaper rh,u
the rates now charged by the V.rgi,,iu
Railway and Power Company and stil'
earn approximately $4,000 annunliy
The tentative rate is cen, per Ei.o-
watt hour rs compared Win the pub-
nc service eo-por@Hon's rate o! q.
cent" 10 lniE" consumers The COM
pany's rate ranges from 10 sem. T..
:. cents per stIlpwa't tou-
IN certain QUARTERS - was believed
sst hIsh' 'Aa' tl" 'DUI,} would ap-
prove ne "rt.n1u.c he.au.e ~ ,h.
,.aI.f n"N""tase aFo.de1 the city.
tieaSGrc sNDNII u. .I,U.,tnB S,,