The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-06-25
LIGHT AND POWER
CUT Is ORDERED
To Compel 1t To Comply with
Terms of Franchise

The Public Service Commission
has notified the Everett City Com
mission Monday that a reduction in
net returns on light and power sold
in the city must be made by the
Puget Sound International Railway
& Power Company. The 1918 net
return, according to the Public Serv-
ice Commissions rotations, is 1913
per cent. A reduction in net return
to per cent is ordered.
Nine years ago this month the
Everett Trades Council commenced
action in this case. The case has
had a chequered career. The Pub
lie Service Commission has post
poned it, pigeon holed it, decided it
in the city's favor only to rescind
it's action, kicked it about and again
pigeon-holed it until the present
commissioners went into office. At
the last hearing of the case Commits
sioner Turner and City Attorney
Faussett made oral arguments before
the commission representing the city
and Mr.. Howe, the attorney for the
company represented his client.
According to the state commits
sion's report the power company
earned 1876 per cent on sale Of pow
er in Everett during 1918. The
return on the sale of energy for
lighting purposes was 11.61 per cent
on the plant, with a net combined
return of 1868 per cent.
The power company is given 10
days within which to file a new
tariff schedule.
In event of its failure to comply
with the commissions order as di-
rected, the commission will prepare
such a schedule of rates.
Findings of fact, according to the
brief filed with the City Commission
ers this morning, are:
That the complaint was filed by
the Public Service Commission of its
own motion.
That the Puget Sound International
Railway & Power Company is a pub
lie service company; owns, operates
and manages an electric generating
plant furnishing electricity for light
and power for hire within the state
and in particular within Everett.
That as of December II, 1911, the
commission fixed the value and rate
base of the light and power systems
of the respondent at $4,000, which
with betterments to December 81,
1918, total $500,S51. SO, which is used
as a means in this cause as the
value and rate base of the light and
power system and that of this total
sum $445,642 is apportioned for light
and $4,000 to power.
That in 1918 after paying operat-
ing expenses and taxes and allowing
3.05 for depreciation the combined
light and power systems gave a net
return of 1913 per cent. That for
the same period the net return on
power was 1876 per cent and on light
it was 11.61 per cent.
Finds Rates Unjust
That the rates now charged for
light and power, singly or combined,
are unjust, unfair, unreasonable and
more than sufficient.
That the 1918 load at simultane
Gus maximum jim kilowatts was
$40 for lights and 30,8O1 for
power.
| That the 1918 operating revenues
for lighting were $l69,003.66 and for
power were S115,4 35 and that OPP
Grating expenses for light were $780,
226.13 and for power were $97,-
! 1851.
That a substantial and very ma
terial part of the company's business
is the distribution of electricity for
power purposes and that electricity
so distributed is not dump or sur
plus energy.
That within 10 days from date of
order the company shall file a re-
duced schedule of rates applying to
light and power service which will
yield an annual net return of 8 per
cent upon the value of the light and
power systems singly and combined,
fixed by the commission as of De-
cember 81, 1918, with net additions
and betterments to June /, 1920
/ That sworn statement of such net
additions to June 20 from December
81, 1918, be filed.
That any and all contracts in con-
flict with the rates SO filed be set