The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1919-02-19
ELECTRIC RATE
MADE CHEAPER
Water And Light Commission Lowers
Price OF Electricity For Cook
ing Purposes. @

The cooking problem, which has
been so perplexing for many months
to the housewives of Greenwood was
in a large measure solved yesterday
by the Water and Light Commission
when they voted to furnish electri-
city to the residents of the city for
culinary purposes at a reduced rate.
Owing to the difficulty in obtain
ing house servants great many of
the housewives of the town have
been compelled to do their own cook
ing, and in order to relieve the situa-
ton to some extent, the Water and
Light Commission have for some
time past investigated the advisibil-
ity of constructing gas plant for
the city. 1t has found that at the
present prices properly constructed
plant suitable for the needs of the
city would cost something in excess
of $200,000.00, and the Commission
has decided that it is inadvisible to
construct such a plant, but has de-
termined to furnish electricity to
house-holders for cooking purposes,
and to make special rates for the cleo
tricity so furnished.
The manufacturers are now putting
out electric stoves and ovens entire
ly satisfactory in every way to users,
that are economical in the use of
electricity. The stoves car be used
the same as gas, coal or wood, and
some of them are so constructed that
they can be adjusted 50 as to turn
on the current automatically at any
given time and when the temperature
rises in the oven to the desired num-
her of degrees, the current is truned
off, and turned on again when the
temperature fails, so as to maintain
an even temperature, at any degree
of heat desired.
At its meeting on yesterday after
noon the Comm ssion directed that
electric ty for cooking purposes be
furnished the householders at the rate
of 1-3 cents per killowat, which with
the usual discount makes a rate of 3
cents. This is the equivelant of gas
at $1OO per thousand. The new rate
will 90 into effect March 1.
Rate Only For Cooking.
The Commission will not be able to
make any profit in furnishing cleo
tricity on this rate, but in fact will
furnish electricity at some loss, but
it was thought that the public good
made it advisable that the Commits
sion bear this loss,
This rate is not allowed to any one
but the house holders, using electri-
city for cooking, and the rate is not
allowed to hotels, restaurants, lunch
stands, and others using electricity
for commercial purposes,
1t is expected that the dealers will
supply the stoves and ovens, at rea-
solab.e prices. If, however, it is
found that this not done the Com
mission will order the necessary ap-
pIiances for those desiring them, and
without profit to the Commission
Electric stoves may be purchased any
where from $50 to $3.50. In addition
to cleanliness, safety, saving in food,
and general ability of cooking with
electricity, the stoves have the furth-
er advantage of saving a great deal
of care. Meats, breads, cakes and
pies can be evenly Drowned to any de-
gree, top, bottom and sides.
In the automatic ranges the current
for the ovens is either turned on by
hand or automatically by clock and
is turned off automatically, according
to the temperature of the settings,
Food is placed in the ovens, the clock
is set for the time desired to turn on
the current, the thermostats are set
for the desired temperature and the
circuit brakers closed No further
attention is necessary as the CLOCK
starts the current and as soon as the
oven reaches the desired temperature
the current is automatically cut off.
Current Cheaper Than Coal.
1t is estimated that the electricity
for an average sized family will
range anywhere from $500 to $4.50
per month. This is cheaper than coal
at $500 per ton. According to con-
servative estimates an average sized
family will use from $500 to $50
worth of coal per month for cooking
purposes alone. In every way with
one exception, the electricity is more
desirable than gas. The only draw
back is that it is too expensive to use
an electric plate for heating a water
tank and separate heating appar
atns will have to be installed for thii
purpose.