Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-06-03
Public Utilities

y,
September II.
Public Utilities
The Maine Public Utilities Com
has made public the follow
ing matters of business passing
through its hands:
Electric Service in Monmouth
4 decision has been rendered by
the Public Utilities Commission in
which it states that it does not at
present feel like requiring the Mon
mouth Electric Co. to make the ex-
tension necessary to serve the Heart
of Maine Packing Company which is
engaged in the business of canning
and packing various commodities at
a place known as Days Corner, in
the town Of Monmouth, and in the
saving of lumber at mill located
there. The decision says: THE COM
plaint as originally made to the
commission related solely to the
question CT the obtaining of service
for the packing company from the
respondent. At the hearing it de-
veloped in the testimony that the
packing company had discussed
matters with the electric company
and found that a considerable ex-
tension would be necessary in order
10 place the respondent in a position
where it could render service, and
that such extension involved so
charge of $40 per month would be
necessary. and this amount was re-
garded as prohibitive by the pack
ing company.
The latter thereupon made in
quiry of the Lewiston, Augusta &
Watervi!le Street Hallway and as
certained that current for power
purposes could he obtained from that
company at two and one half cents
killwatt hour, without any mini
mum charge whatever. The reason
why this low price was obtained was
due to the fact that the power lines
of the Lewiston. Augusta & Water
willie Street Railway pass directly by
the plant of the packing company,
and at practically no expense what
ever a connection could be made
1t therefore seems to the packing
company that it should be permitted
to obtain current from the street
railway. and at the hearing it was
urged that such should be the ar
rangement made by the parties and
by the commission.
THE respondent electric company
called attention to the fact that the
Lewiston. Augusta & Watervilie
Street Railway obtains it's power
from the Central Maine Power Co.
direct; that the respondent COM
pany obtains it's power from the
Central Maine Power Co. but through
the agency of the Winthrop &
Wayne Co. which latter company
takes its energy from the Central
Maine Power Co. and sells it to the
respondent. There is said to be a
considerable difference in the price
at which the Central Maine Power
Co. furnishes the two utilities with
current, and the respondent asked
that we determine that the price
which it was paying was TOO great
and in spite of it's contract reduce
the amount. so that it might then
be in a better position to make the
extension and render the service
asked for by the packing company.
Neither the Central Maine Power
Co. nor the Winthrop G. Wayne Co.
are parties to these proceedings.
Nor have we sufficient evidence, even
If they were parties, upon which to
base conclusion with reference to
the reasonableness of the rates
which the Central Maine Power Co.
makes to either of these public utili-
ties. 1t Is we'll known that there
are many conditions and circum-
stances connected with the furnish
ing Of energy which make a SUBJ
stantial difference in the price to be
paid. and We have no knowledge and
can express no opinion with refer
ence to the circumstances which may
exist in this instance.
I'VE also seem to be without au-
thority on this record to authorize
the Lewiston. Augusta & Waterville
Street Railway to furnish service to
the packing company. Our utility
statute provides that no corporation
organized under the general law
shall have authority without the
consent Of the commission to furnish
Its service in any city or town in or
to which another corporation is
furnishing or authorised to furnish
service. until upon public hearing of
all parties interested the commission
makes a declaration that public con-
venience and necessity requires such
second public utility. While the
Lewiston. Augusta e. Waterville
Street Railway is not a corporation
organized under the general law. it
certainly 10 q party interested In the