The Washington times., 1920-07-20
MUST HAVE COURT ASSENT.

MUST HAVE COURT ASSENT.
1t was pointed out today the COM
mission could not increase the rates
without permission of the District
Supreme Court, an injunction which
prevents the commission from putting
into effect an Scent per kilowatt
hour rate, has been granted by the
With this injunction granted
the public continues to pay a 1O-cent
rate, = cents Of this amount being i'm
pounded in a fund. disposal of which
is to be made by the courts.
The injunction prevents the COM
from increasing rates without
permission. first, from the Potomac
Electric Power Company. President
Ham said today his company was
willing at any time to grant such
permission
The Public Utilities Commission
now has under consideration petit
tion for increase in rates on Schedule
L, which involves wholesale users.
The company asks for this increase
because of the high price of coal.
When these hearings were being held
the representatives of the whole
salers declared ii was unfair to in
crease wholesale and not other rates.
REQUESTS HEARING.
President Hams latest petition
asks that all rates, including Schedule
L, be increased. He asks the COM
mission for a hearing to consider
widening the scope of the commits
sion's present rate increase considera-
tions.
Col Charles W. KutZ, chairman OF
the Public Utilities Commission. said
today the commission would hold
public hearing at 1870 o'clock on the
morning of August and decide
whether to take under consideration
the petition for an increase in all
rates.
If an increase in all rates is al
lowed by the commission it will not
change the electric bills. The COM
contends the present rate is
only s cents per kilowatt, and in
creases will be made on this basis.
The public now pays 10 cents per
kilowatt hour. and an increase would
only mean that smaller portion of
the extra . cents will be impounded.
MATTER NOW IN COGRTs.
For instance: If the commission
increases the rates to nine cents,
this one cent extra would go direct
ly into the pocketbook OF the cleo
trio company. The other cent of the
extra two cents now being paid with
the present ten-cent rate would he
Impounded.
The courts now have under con-
sideration the petition of the electric
company for permanent order 70
restrain the District commissioners
from establishing an eight-cent per
kilowatt hour rate. The company
asks the court to allow the ten-ceht
rate to continue.
The temporary injunction provides
for the continuance OF
the 10-cent rate and also provides
that . cents of this amount be Inn
pounded. This impounded fund
amounts now to more than a million
dollars. If the court, when 1t takes
up the case next fall, decides in favor
Of the company, the company will
get the million-dollar impounded
fund. However. IL the court decides
in favor of the Utilities Commission,
tho public has the million dollars re-
turned to IT.
TEXT OF PETITION.
Here is the company's latest petit
tion:
"The Potomac Electric Power Com.
many hereby asks leave to amend its
petition filed under date OF May rs,
1920. by adding at the end thereof
the following allegations and prayer:
"The revenues now derived under
schedule T. re wholly Inadequate to
Weld and do not yield a reasonable
return upon the fair value OF the
property of the company used in pro-
ducins the current furnished to Its
customers Hereunder after making