Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1920-06-19
R. sTANsBgRY, C. c.
In re Increased Rates of. Alexandria
County Lighting Company. ,

In re Increased Rates Of Alexandria
County Lighting Company.
To the City Council of Alexandria,
Alexandria, Virginia.
Gentlemen:
Present conditions compel the
Alexandria County Lighting Com
pany to increase its rates for private
purposes was fixed moro
for street lighting is contemplated
as this rate. was satisfactorily ad-
iusted between the Company and the:
City Council a few years ago under
a price which was to run for ten
(1O) years from the date of the
agreement.
The present rate for private
the increase in operating and pro-
than thirteen (13) years ago, when
labor and material were from fifty
(50) tS two hundred (20q) per cent
lower than prices prevailing at the
present time.
At the beginning of the war all
maintenance and construction costs
were cut down to the very minimum,
not only through patriotic spirit,
but in compliance with Government
restrictions. In spite Of this fact,
the increast in operating and pro-
duction costs was practically double
that of the costs before the war.
This added burden of expense, how
ever, was borne by the Lighting
Company and no increase in rates
applied for, although the profit
from lighting service was prac-
ticaly wiped out.
Coal, which constitutes practical
" sevventy-fve (75) per cent of
the cost of producing electrical en-
ergy, has increased Lightweight and
'three-tenths 1889 per cent SINCE
the period Immediately preceding
the war. and is still going up. Other
items entering into the cost of pro-
duction have increased in like pro-
portion.
The present rates for lighting in
the City Of Alexandria are:
First kilowatt hour consumed
per month. ;. .$0.12 Sper X. W. H.
Each additional skilowata hour con-
sumed per mo-. OF per h. W. H.
Minimum monthly bill, .......S1 90
z Cash discount on consumption IN
del" 400 K: w. H. per- month-none.
Cash" discount on consumption of
400 K. w. H. or more per month
10 per cent.
The proposed rate for residential
and commercial users in the City
of Alexandria is:
First kilowatt hours consumed
per month. .S1.OO
, (Which shall be the minimum
monthly bill.)
Next 300 kilowatt hours used
per north. >. .08 per K. II.
Next 500 kilowatt hours used
per month. $50. OF per X. w. H.
Next 800 kilowatt hours used
per month. ..... .G6 per X. w. H.
All in excess of 1,605 X. w. H.
per month. ..... .05 per X. ". H.
On all bills paid within ten days
of date of bill cash discount will
be allowed of per cent on the first
s25 of the monthly bill, and per
cent on the balance.
1t is only due to the fact that the
new and modern equipment installed
in the Company's plant is so highly
efficient as to permit production of
energy at a great deal lower cost,
that the Company has been able to
continue to furnish service up to
this time, although the increasing
cost of labor and material and the
gradual decrease of wartime activ-
tiles is so rapidly reducing the Com
pany's earnings that not even a
minimum rate of interest can be
realized on the invested capital, let
alone any funds for profits or the
so necessary maintenance.
Were the original plant, with the
slow speed and low efficiency ma
chinery still in operation, it would
have necessitated not one, but sew
eral increases in rates, not only dur
ing the war, but at the present time,
to enable the Company to even meet
operating costs.
The Lighting Company has been !
advised by its Counsel that, under
the franchise granted to it by the
City of Alexandria, the question of
the increase of rates should be
taken up directly with the City
Council.
The Company will, therefore,
greatly appreciate the reference Of
this matter to the proper Commit