Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-14
MANY GAS Meters
WILL Be INSPECTED
Machines Suspected Owing
i 3''
to Increases in Bills for
November.

AS a result of increases in their gas
bills for November. COS consumers
have submitted their meters to the
| inspection bureau of the Public Utili-
ties Commi ssion SO far this month for
examination. This is the largest mum
Der to be received in one msnth in
the history OF the office. -
( 1t was stated at the inspection bu-
reau today that out of 400 tested thus
! far. III, or abou. IS per cent, have
! been recorded as registering fast.
| A week ago only 81 meters had
been sent in for testing, showing that
approximately 240 have been received
since.
! 1t was stated at the inspection bu-
| reau that in the cases where the
meters have been found to register
| fast the percentage Of excessive
| speed Is seldom high enough to cause
! an unusual jump in the bills. In most
of the fast meters, IL was said. the
! percentage is around or per cent.
A meter per cent fast. 1t was ex-
planned, would make a difference of
only rs cents on IS bill. Only in rare
| cases does the percentage run as high
! as 10 per cent, it was stated.
Result Of Increased Pressure.
| An official of the Public Utilities
Commission said that the increased
/ pressure which the company fnds it
necessary to put on during the peak
periods of the day in order to meet the
demands for service probably results
in some consumers using more gas
than they need.
This official pointed out that the con-
sumner can regulate the flow of gas
when the pressure seems too strong by
turning the stOpcock at the burner.
He added. however. that many house.
| keepers do not understand this practice
and seldom attempt to regulate the air
and gas valve at the burner.
1t is understood the utilities commits
sion has considered informally the
question of whether the gas company
needs additional mains running from
the works to the outlying sections to
relieve the pressure which must be
applied to the existing mains to keep
pace with the growth in consumption.
1t was stated at the District build
ing that the high cost of carrying out
large extension projects has deferred
the commission from directing the
company to make any extensions un-
der existing conditions.
At present, 1t was pointed out, much
of the gas used in the suburbs passes
through the old mains in the heart
of the city, necessitating an increase
in,pressure during the cooking hours
when both the city and suburban
jewellers are using gas at the same
time.
The laying of new mains to the
outlying sections could be avoided
according to an official Of the COM
mission. by placing gas holders in
the outlying sections. but such a
proposal would probably be opposed
vigorously by the neighboring residents
"Booster'' Stations.
The gas company is endeavoring to-
meet the growing consumption of
gas by constructing booster sta
tions. These stations speed the gas
along in the mains, keeping the
mains full during the hours when
every household is using gas.
A new booster station has just been
completed on NJ street near North
Capitol street and will be put in op-
Grafton in about q week. It is in
| tended to meet the increased de-
mand for gas in Brookland.