Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-09-09
CITIZENS GAS
co. ASKING FOR
HIGHER RATES
Under. Guise of Suggestions
Commission Gets Pro
posal.
SLIDING SCALE IS IDEA

The Citizens Gas Company, whose man
ager declares the company does not need
increased rates for dividend purposes,
has suggested to the public service COM
mission the following schedules Of In
creased rates to gas consumers;
Schedule A-For the first 1000 cubic
feet or less monthly, go cents thousand ;
over 1000 and not over 5000. 20 cents
over 5000 and not over 1000, SIS over
1000 and not over 5000, $3.50; over 1000
and not over 5000, Sis; over 5000 and
not over 10000, 1925; over 10000 and not
over $4,000, $3.50; over 10000 and not over
10000, 50; over 10000, $3.50.
Schedule B-F0r the 6rst 1000 cubic feet
or less monthly, 60 cents thousand; over
1000 and not over 5000, 15 cents over
5000 and not over 1000. S125; over 1000
and not over 5000, $3.50; over 5000 and
not over 5000, 81; over 5000 and not
over 10000. S2.25; over 10000 and not
over 10000 $3.50; over 1900. SO.
Schedule C-For the first 1000 cubic
feet or less monthly, go cents a thousand !;
over 1000 and not over 5000 90 cents:
over 5000 and not over 1000, $1.30; over
1000 and not over 5000, S1.60; over
$500.
4 These three schedules of suggested
rates are for domestic consumers.
EXCEPTION TO
SCALE MADE.
In relation to industrial use of gas
and its use by hotels and hospitals 1t Is
suggested by the company that the pro-
posed ascending sliding scale should be
applied to them only with respect to
their consumption in any winter month
which shan be in excess Of their aver
age consumption for the months Of June.
July and August
In its suggestions the company ex-
presses belief that schedule c, with the
suggestion relative to hotels. hospitals
and Industrial consumers, would work
no great hardship on any class OF con-
sumers and would at the same time be
as effective as anything which seems in
the range OF possibility In checking the
use OF gas for heating purposes.
In commenting, In It's suggestions on
these three proposed schedules, the COM
pnny says:
after giving due weight 10 the various
suggestions OF ascending sliding scales
which have been made. three have been
worked out for purposes Of illustration.
Schedule "A covers in a general way what
seems to have been the original sugges-
ton from the public service commission !;
schedule b modlfes II by increasing the
steps for some OF the smaller consumers.
In both OF these cases. it is believed the
schedules viii fail to accomplish the re-
suits desired while st the same time
working a severe and undeserved hard
ship on the classes OF consumers who
contribute least 10 the winter peaks.
Therefore, We are presenting also sched-
ule C. which makes a much. heavier in
crease on the nrst step and does not
have any rate above 81 which is reached
by those who consume 5000 or over"
HEARING SET
FOR FRIDAY.
These suggestions as to rates and otber
suggestions as TO means Of conserving
the supply OF gas during the winter viii
BE- taken up at a public hearing before
members OF the public service commits.
sion Friday afternoon at 1 80
The following letter inviting the In
dianspous Chamber Of Commerce. the
Indianapolis Board Of Trade and the
Merchants association 10 participate IN
the hearing Friday afternoon has been
sent TO those three bodies by r. l. Lewis.
chairman OF the public service commits
sion: s -e" te= 81
The public service commission has
called upon the Citizens Gas Company 20
make a showing Of It's ability TO meet
the demands that are likely 10 fall upon
IL for gas during the coming winter.
"A public conference, which served 10
bring the situation before the public for
It's best thought, wss held last week.
The commission is now setting the
whole matter OF gas supply for hearing
In Its rooms IN the statehouse at 80
p. m. Friday, Sept. 10 This hearing will be
open TO all having any interest whatsoever
The commission Is Of the opinion that
your organization should participate IN
the efforts being made TO analyze the gas
situation that confronts the city. and 10
adopt means OF meeting any emergency
that might be found TO exist.
TWO YEAR SAGO
RECALLED.
Two years ago the commission re-
quired the company TO double its coal
gas ovens. There seemed TO be thus pro-
vided facilities for meeting. under usual
conditions Of operation and demand, the
requirements Of the people Of Indianapo--
lis. Apprehension now arises because OF
abnormal conditions that have developed
in the last few months. These conditions
are nation wide and have already resulted