The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-03-15
NEW PRICE TO
Be EFFECTIVE
SIX MONTHS
Companies to Charge 5 Cents
More Per 1000 Feet Begin
ming March 20.

An increase IN the price OF T88 u
the District from 90 cents 4 thousand
cubic feet to IS cents q thousand
cubic feet. was ordered BY the Public
Utilities Commission Of the Distriet
today.
The increase in the price Of xas
win be for a period Of six months
beginning March 80 and ending Sep
TENDER 20
This decision by the utilities Com
mission Affects the washington CAS-
Light Company and the GeorgStown
Cas- Light Company Both eompanfes
pettttOned the commission for An in
crease In rates November q, 1918. on
Tuesday, March 2. q public hearing
on the petition OF the gas companies
was held By the Utilities Commission.
ORieiaI Order.
The official order issued By the
I'ublic Utilities Commission reads.
That the rate to be charged for
sas furnished BY a public utility to
any private consumer In the District
OF Columbia, for lighting. heating.
power. OF for any other purpose. shall
rot exceed 30 cents per one thousand
cubic feet
That this rate shall apply uni
formly to all private Consumers n
the District OF Columbia, whether sup
pied with gas BY the Washingfon
Gas Light Company or by the George
town Gas Light Company.
That this rate shall apply 20 an
gas furnished from March 20. 1918.
to September 20. 1919.
That on September 20, 1919. the
rate shall be restored automatically to
20 cents per one thousand cubic feet
unless on or before said date TIE
commission shall have ordered other
wise"
Penalty Charge.
Another clause in the order By the
commission reads That IL any pri-
vats consumer OF gas shall not nay
monthly any gas bill within ten DAYS
after the same shall have been pre-
scented, the gas company may charge
and collect from said consumer 10
cents additional for each one thou
sand cubic feet OF gas represented in
said bill, as now required BY law"
Reasons Cited.
Accompanying the official order
changing the rates was a statement
by the Public Utilities Commission
citing several reasons why the change
is necessary
After showing a table compiled By
the com mission which gives the sx-
penses Of the two gas companies, the
commission stated: This table
shows, that under the above as
sumption. the companies must re-
cetVe 50 cents per thousand cubic
feet for all gas sold to private con-
sumers in order to yield a return OF
o per cent. In the opinion OF the
commission. this price Is just and :.
reasonable for a limited period not
exceeding six months. 1t Is true that
IT ignores a probable reduction in
the price OF oil and coal before the
expiration OF the six months period
but on the other hand IL makes no
allowance for the difference between
what the companies actually earned
since January 1. 1918, and what they
would have earned had the rates
been sufficient to yield per cent
return during that period"
In one part Of the statement the
commission compares the amount OF
dividends Of the gas companies and
that OF the Potomac Electric Power
Company. 1t reads:
Burdens Divided.
In the decision in the Potomac
Electric Powers rate case. order Ne.
223, the commission held that rates
which would yield a return OF per