The Washington times., 1919-08-30
W.G.C0. ASKS
TO CONTINUE
95-CENT GAS
includes Georgetown Company
in Petition to Have War Rate
Continue After Sept. 80.

The washington Gasiight Come
pany for itself and the Georgstown
Gaslight Company has psttioned the
Public Utilities Commission to con
tinue, after September 20, the exist.
ing rate Of IS cents a Thousand fof
gas IN this city BY order Of the
commission charges for gas IN the
District were raised in March last
from 90 cents 20 o5 cents for the six
months between March 20 and sep
tembsr 20.
The Gaslight Company wishes the
present rate 70 continue without hmt
tation as to time.
A complete statement Of the busi-
ness Of the gas company is made in
the petition. IT is claimed that tbs
cost OF making kas for the seven
months ending July 81, was 10 cents
q 1000 feet more than for the sa1e
seven months ln 1918. Other costs
have been relatively Increased.
CIalHs Il WouId Iose Heasily.
But for the fact that the sales of
gas have Increased the company says.
Il would be losing money heavily. As
Il u the company claims it is just
about making the return which the
commission has granted it. The re-
turn is 500 per cent on the finding
of true value Of the two gas come
panies. This valuation Of the PUB
lic Utilities COmmission was f1Q.-
T62. 900.
: me company does not expect any
decrease IN the cost Of labor or oe
materials.
The Gas Company hints nat II the
commission q to allow e . proper
return the charge for gas should exs
ceed the present rate. Having allow
ed the Potomac Electric Light Com
psny . return Of per cent on iis
valuations the Gas Company does not
understand why It's return should be
held down to B.02 per cent.
ouotes CommisaioneFu, Order.
On this point the petition says;
"In this connection this company
respectfully asks that the commission
win give every confederation to tie
rate OF return that it shall be entitled
70 earn on the fair value Of It's prop
srty. In formal case No. 20, order 3i4,
the commission says that the bust
nsss OF manufacturfne and distrfbut-
ing gas, as far as risk 70 the investor
II concerned. e quite similar 70 that
OF misunderstanding and distributing
electric current Tor light and power,
50 that II 7 per cent represents q fair
rate Of return for an electris power
company, q similar rate should be al
lowed for q gGs company. The com
was also Of the opinion that
The burdens imposed BY the war should
be divided By the consumer and the
utility, and that until normal condi-
tions are restored, rates for service
OF this character which would yield
q return Of per cent on the fair
value OF the property are reasonable
and IN no sense confiseatory.
Claims Service satffIes.
GAs a year has nearly elapsed since
the signing OF the armistiee, and de-
mobilization % about completed. the
company feels that Il - now entitled
to have fixed q reasonable rate Of
return on the fair value OF its prop
efty. The private consumer expects
and has the right to require adequate
and satisfactory service for the com
modify furnished BY the company
and IN view Of the small number Of
complaints received, the company
feels justified in stating that the
service now furnished to the congum- I
sr Is satisfactory. In order to con-
tinue the service it IS necessary tkat
Il be allowed q rate Of return on the
fair value OF les property that will
provide Il with revenues sufficient
TO meet its bills with promptness. TO
pay interest on its bonded and other
Indebtedness, and 70 pay reasOnabls
dividends to its shareholders"
Government Rate BelOw COsf.
The Gaslight Company says that
The Federal and District Governments
are now getting their gas much be-
low actual cost but on this point
confines itself to this statement:
'Tt does not seem necessary &c
this time to discuss the inequality
and Injustice OF the District and
rate Of 70 cents paid for
gas used by them. which % less than
The cost OF gas at the burner. With
reference to the price OF the company
for the street lighting. the
receipt per lamp on an average Of
S17.22 per lamp. this company re-
,eives for the gas so furnished about
twsnty-eight and one-half cents per
thousand cubic feet"
A formal hearing will be held "a
he Board Room at the District Build
ng at 1880 o'clock Friday morning.
September IL, TO consider the petition
Df the Gas Company for itself and
'or the GEORGETOWN COMPANY