The Washington herald., 1920-08-17
p
CITIZENS FIGHT
PEPCO BOOST
Objections to Lighting
Schedules Voiced at
Meeting.
FIGURES PRESENTED
Company Officials Ask In
creases to Yield Fair
Return.

Petition of the Potomac Electric
Company for an increase in rates
affecting wholesale users, the manu-
featuring firms of the District, were
strenuously opposed by w. Mex
Clayton. counsel for the Federation
OF Citizens Associations, and ]. NJ.
Chamberlin. counsel for the Wash
ington Steel and Ordnance Company,
at the public hearing of the COM
pany before the Public Utilities
Commission yesterday.
Increases in rates were asked by
the company in four of six schedules
considered. The largest increase was
that asked in regard to the whole
sale consumers. in which a net in
crease in revenue of s244,s10 to give
the company return of $50 per
cent on the fair valuation of the
property was asked.
Consideration Asked.
we believe that 1t is for the best
interests of the great mass of citi-
zens Of the District that the light
manufacturing class should be given
room to expand and its interests
most carefully considered by the
commission in viewing this case"
Mr.. Clayton said.
DO you think the burden should
be placed on Glass A. the retail con-
sumers%' Commissioner Kutz. chair
man Of the commission, asked.
Il do not think it should be placed
unbearably on them, but to some ex-
tent. However. let the real burden
fall on the store consumers. who
reap the profits OF increased indus
trial growth of the city" Mr.. Clay
ton replied.
Says Rate Unfair.
Mr.. Chamberlin declared the high
rate asked by the company for the
wholesale consumers was unfair,
since the manufacturing concerns
of the city had come here with the
lower rate in operation. Il think
the retail consumers should share
some of the prOportionate increases
in rates, for they are employed by
the wholesale concerns. who will
not be able to function here if the
present rate increase is given"
Chamberlin said.
Figures presented by II. G.
BrOokes, commercial superintendent
OF the company, showed the net loss
Of the company in the wholesale
class for last year to be S22,S62.53.
Loss shown.
The company asked for only a
slight increase in Glass II rates
which Mr.. Brookes said would make
the company give electricity to this
class at a loss of about $4,000 "A
high rate in this schedule will re-
tard electric cooking, which we are
especially anxious at this time 10
promote, even though at a loss to
the company"
Figures for increases presented
by the company were based on OBJ
tainsae esreturn of per cent on the
Iair valuation of the property An
s per cent return was protested by
both Mr.. Clayton and Mr.. Chamber
lin.
object to Pereept.
We feel the eight per cent law
enacted by Congress was for use
in banking only" Mr.. Clayton de-
Clared in answer to the statement
Of the company that Congress had
authorized eight per cent returns as
proper and fair.
An Increase in revenue amount
ing to s595,S3G.O6 to give a 80 per
cent return was asked for class A:
an increase Of S35. .243.OO in revenue
to give return of 12.44 per cent
was asked in class B: SI@.j4S.OO
more in revenue to give a return of
9.49 per cent in class c was asked:
50, 367.5f increase in revenue to give
return Of S74 per cent was asked
IN class G: S6.O0O.OO increase in
revenue in class II to give re-
turn of minus 2.67 per cent was
asked; and an increase OF S2O,21726
to give a return of la per cent
was asked for street and park
lighting by Mr.. BrOokes. These in
CrcaSes will neCcssitate an increase
TO ten cents per kilowatt hour per
100000 cubic feet for consumers. aC-
Cording TO the petition. No changes
in rates for classes D and + were
asked
In classifying the schedules Mr..
Brookes asked for returns of 1856
per cent from revenue gained from
retail users. $50 per cent for whole
sale users and $50 per cent from
wholesale consumers.
President William F Ham tcsti-
fed at the morning session and ex-
planned that If the company's ap-
pliCation for a restoration of rate
of ten cents per kilowatt hour is
granted the so-called general public
or householders would not have
their bills increased. These GUS
toners are now paying ten cents
but the company gets only eight
cents. the other two cents going
into fund hv