Grants Pass daily courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1919-1931, 1919-03-27
HIGHER RATES TO CONSUMERS
GOES INTO EFFECT ON
APRIL 4
sl,OO FOR ZOO FEET MINIMUM
Increase In oil Price and Freight
Rates Under Federal Order Given
~ Reason for Advance

Grants Pass will pay more for III
gas as u result OF the decision OF the
public service commission acting on
the recent application of the Oregon
Gas q Electric company for an In
crease In rates. The Increase is made
effective after April !, 1919.
In April. 1918. the company ap.
piled for an increased rate and from
July tho commission allowed an
increase OF so cents per 1000 feet,
3s i/3 increase over the previous
rate.
The present increased rate varies
from o per cent on 5000 cubic fee
10 about 10 per cent TO the consumer
of only $50 feet.
The schedule OF monthly rates as
prescribed by the commissions order
taking effect July /. 1913, was:
First 5000 feet at $2.l0 per 1000
Next 1900 feet at $40 per 1000
Next $4,000 feet at $40 per 1000
EXCESS OF $1,000 a., Sl,3O, per l,OOO
Minimum charge. 81.
Discount OF i0c per 1000 feet II
paid on or before 10th OF month.
The schedule for monthly rates as
prescribed by the commissions order
taking effect April /. 1919. Is as fol-
lows:
First 200 feet or less. $l.05.
Next 1890 feet at s2.10 per 1000.
All over 5000 feet, $l.75 per 1000.
Discount OF por cent allowed on
bills paid within 10 days from date.
The new rate allows an increase
OF about Q per cent to the consumer
OF 5000 feet OF gas. Under the pre-
vious rate. the minimum was ESQ GU
bic feet for 81 net. The new rate
minimum is 200 feet for 81.
The showing OF the gas company
at the hearing before the commits
sion was considered sufficient cause
for an Increase innsmuch as the
price OF oil has greatly increased
as well as the freight rates, and the
fact that the company has not paid
operating expenses. The company
asked for an increase or the priyi-
lege OF shutting down the plant.
The fact, however, remains that
when the first increase in rate was
made the number OF consumers drop
ped and the average amount con-
sumed dropped to such an extend
that the total income OF the company
so far as the Grants Pass plant Is
concerned, was reduced. II Is prob
able that the present increase In
rates will have the same effect.
At the hearing the opinion was
freely expressed that IL the company
would apply ordinary business prin-
ciples and make an attempt to in
crease their business here n could
be done easily. Instances were re-
lated where application for gas had
been made but no service could be
secured, and that absolutely no ef-
fort whatever had been made to In
crease the number OF consumers.
During the past month. in view OF
the possible increase in rates, the
company has lost customers, and It
is probable that others will discon-
tinue as the prince increases.
II seems reasonable to predict that
the company will have to ask for a
still further increase in rates unless
they exert some effort to secure ad-
ditional customers.
The same rates will apply to the
plant at Medford which supplies both
Medford and Ashland and interme-
date territory.
Salem, Ore, Mar. 27.--The publi
service commission has granted an1
Increase In gas rates to the Oregon
Gas & Electric company which Is