The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1920-07-08
GAS COMPANY
ASKS REHEARING
Declares twenty-five Cents
a Thousand Increase Is
too Little to Save Co.
MUST MEET EXPENSE

The Wisconsin Gas and Electric com
pany through its General Manager
D. E. Calendar, announced this morn
ing that the company would at once
appeal from the decision of the Wis
consin of the Wisconsin Railroad Com
mission and ask rehearing on the
petition by which the commission
granted the company the right to in
crease the rates for gas in Racine. Ke-
nosha and other cities. Exclusive an
nouncement Of the change in rate by
commission order was made in the
Evening News on Thursday evening.
The company holds that the increase
granted by the commission is wholly
inadequate to meet the demands Of in
creased labor bills and increased cost
of fuel. In his statement to the con-
sumers Of the various cities now re-
ceiying gas from the plant in Racine,
Mr.. Calendar make frank announce
ment of just what the company is
forced to meet in the way Of increases.
100000 Shortage in Sight.
"We received copy Of the Com
missions order of June 10Th Wednes-
day. afternoon" says Mr.. Calendar.
"The increase in wages ordered by the
commission together with the in
creases in cost of coal, to which the
company is now being subjected, as
measured by the prices already paid
with every prospect in view that coal
prices will 60 still higher with the
ever increasing scarcity Of coal,
amounts to $734,6ooo0 per year. The
increase in revenues granted by the
order on the assumption that business
activities continue at their present
rate, will yield the company approx
imately 217,779.o0 per year. It is per-
fectly evident that the Increased reve-
nues given the company under the
order cannot meet Increased expenses
and the company will be deprived Of
he necessary resources tc enable it
to acquire the necessary coal to carry
ever until the opening e navigation in
1921, or to enable it to procure money
for needed plant extensions"
Will Welcome Suggestions.
"Whie the decision of the commits
sion states that the company has not
recently attained anything like the
average standard of efficiency reach
ed by other gas plants in the state,
it fails to mention any instance where
other plants in this or any other state
operating under comparable conditions
and being required to use the same
general character of coal, are produc-
ing any better results. The manage
ment Of the company has invited the
experts of the commission to offer
suggestions for possible improvement
in the efficiency Of the gas produc-
tion in the company's plant and will
now welcome any suggestions which
the commission or its experts can of
fer as to how gas can be produced
under existing conditions more eff
ficiently than is being accomplished
by it.. 4
AS we now see the situation there
is no course left open to the company
but to promptly petition the commits
sion for reconsideration primarily in
the interest Of the public so that the
company may be enabled to safeguard
the existing gas supply"
Rates As Outlined
The new rates for gas as outlined
for Kenosha by the commission are
as follows:
Gross Net
First 10000 Cubic Feet. $3.50 $1.7o
Next 10000 Cubic Feet. 100 100
Next 10000 Cubic Feet. 140 1870
All over $4,000 Cubic Feet 1.35 125
The rates for Racine are:
First 10000 Cubic Feet. $1.75 s165
Next 1000 Cubic Feet. 1.55 Las
Next $4,000 Cubic Feet, 1.4O 100
All over $4,000 Cubic Feet 1.35 125
Says Five Cents Fair.
The company insists that the extra
five cents in the rate for Kenosha is
due to the cost Of bringing the gas
from Racine to Kenosha. The state
commission has repeatedly held that
this additional charge is q fair charge
on the part Of the company.
It is possible that the city will con-
tend against any rehearing of the petit