Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-20
STEAM HEAT
COMPLAINT IS
DISMISSED
Increased Coal and Labor
Costs Make Advance NeceS-
sary, 1t Is Decided
BELOW AVERAGE HERE
Public Service Commission
Makes Order in Harris
burg Case

The complaint of ]. W. Roden-
haver and others, of Harrisburg,
against the steam rates of the Har-
risburg Light & Power Company,
filed August Is of last year, was
dismissed to-day by the Public Serv-
ice Commission after thorough in
vestigation of the company's re-
ceipts and expenditures for the steam
heat branch of its business.
In taken this action the Commits
sion makes the following order:
That the complaint in this case
be, and the same hereby is, dismissed
without prejudice to the right OF the
complainant to renew the same on
or after the 3lst day of May, 1920.
And it is further ordered: That
the respondent, the Harrisburg Light
and Power Company, file with the
Commission statements supplemental
of the exhibits which have been sub
mitted by it. carrying the revenue
and operating expenses down to May
31st, 1920, and to furnish complain
ants counsel with copies of the
same.
Other Cities Higher
The Commission draws attention
also to the fact that. although its
report is not predicated upon it for
the similarity of conditions under
which operations have been con-
Quoted has not been established by
evidence, that out of thirty steam
heating companies whose tariffs are
on file with this Commission but
four carry rates less than those
complained against while most OF
the others are materially greater.
The average rate of twenty seven of
these including the four referred to
is 1876 cents per thousand pounds
SA1ile the remaining three are
S.7125, s1.04 and .65 respectively
but to which must be added coal
clauses of a 80 per cent. surcharse
carried in the three tariffs. The
Harrisburg rate is at least 1876 cents
less than the average.
Pittsburgh, Mahonoy City, Blooms
burg, Ebensburg, Coatesville, Johns
town, Tyrone, Erie, Hazleton, Leb-
anon, Greenville, Myersdale, Nor
ristown, oxford. Clearfield, Phillips
burg, Philadelphia, West Chester
and vicinity, Pottsville, Remove,
Scranton, Shenandoah, Towanda and
vicinity, Wayne, Windber, York,
Washington and East Washington
are among the towns the rates of
which were used to reach the fore
going average.
Evidence Presented
The former rate was so cents per
thousand pounds of steam consumed,
with an allowance of ten cents per
thousand for prompt payment of
bills, making the rate forty cents.
The new schedule was 65 cents for
the first thousand pounds, sixty cents
for the next $1,000 pounds, 55 cents
for the next 100000 pounds, so
cents for excess over 100000 pounds,
with rebate of five cents per thou
sand for prompt payment.
The revenues received from the
sale of steam under the forty-cent
rate which was agreed to be reason
able from May 81. 1916, to May 81,
1917, the steam heating year, was
Sl1S,130.00. while the operating eX-
penses of producing and distributing
l the steam for the same period was
s77,412.00, leaving s40,718.00 apple
able to depreciation and fair return
For the year beginning May 81
1917, and ending May 3D. 1918, the
gross revenues were S12S, ,005. 90
and the expenses were s136,6S1.O .OC
which produced a deficit in opera
ton of S8,676.00 and, of course, left
nothing whatever for fair return
and depreciation.
Increased costs of labor and coaI
entered into the testimony and find.
ings and after going thoroughly into
the matter the advance in rates Is
pronounced justified by the circum.
stances.