The Washington times., 1921-07-30
Text of Decision
Reducing Gas Rate
To ID. c. Consumer

To ID. C. Consumers
The gas rate decision follows:
BY the Commission; On March II.
1921. the Commission issued order No.
416. fixing the price to be charged for
gas furnished by the Washington Gas
Light Company and the Georgetown
Gas Light Company at the following
rates
For less than $4,000 cubic feet Of
gas per month. $1.26.
For $4,000 cubic feet and less than
$50. 900 cubic feet per month. 31.2O.
For 100000 cubic feet and less than
100000 cubic feet per month. &I.I5.
For 100000 cubic feet and less then
760, 900 cubic feet per month, S1.IO.
For 1900 cubic feet and less than
100000 cubic feet per month, SI.06.
For 100000 cubic feet or more per
month, 800.
BY the terms OF the order these rates
are effective to the meter reading
period beginning September 10, 1921,
unless on or before that date the com.
mission shall have ordered otherwise.
For the purpose Of considering the
rates to be effective after the last
named date. the commission held a
formal public hearing. after due notice,
on July 22. 1891. At which time the
companies presented detailed state
ments showing the results Of their
combined operations during the firss
five months of the present calendar
year and an estimate of operations for
the remaining seven months of that
year. These statements were accom-
panied by one showing at what rate
the companies could furnish Eas for
the ensuing year with costs Of fuel ana
oil adjusted to present prices and as
Stunning a rate of return Of 8 per cent
on the fair value of the properties as
Of May 81, 1921. The result of these
calculations showed that gas could be
furnished to all consumers. 1. O., to pri-
vate consumers, to the Federal ano
District governments, for street light
ing and to outside companies at an
average rate of s1.0947 per thousand
cubic feet. Owing to the effect of the
low rate fixed by act Of Congress for
gas furnished to the Federal and Dis
trict governments, and allowing for
the step rates to wholesale consumers,
the rate to private consumers usins
lass than 5000 cubic feet per month
would be 3l.152. The companies 40
cordingly stated that they are prepared
to submit to q reduction of 10 cents
wv AAOoD@ho SooiC LOCI Aot 8u8 DOto On
and after the meter reading period be.
ginning September IL, 1921. the date
on which the present rates expire.
Rate Of Fair Return.
As stated above. the reduction Of 10
cents per thousand cubic feet Is pro-
posed on the assumption that the rate
value of the property be fixed NJ per
cent. The commission believes that
under conditions al they exist at this
time II will be fair and reasonable to
adjust the rates for gas 10 a. to bring
to the companies a return of approx
mately per cent. This can be accom-
plished by a maximum rate Of $1.10
per thousand cubic feet and q mini
mum rate OF 30 cents per thousand,
using the same basis of prices. con.
sumption. ETC.. AZ was used by the
posed reduction in rates of 10 cents
per thousand cubic feet.
As to the steps In the present SEIZED
ule, the commission believes that there
u too great a variation between the
minimum and maximum amounts and
that they should be modified to the
extent indicated below In paragraph /
Of the order.
After a careful consideration Of the
evidence in this case, the commission
| il of the opinion that the reduction to
S1.10 per thousand cubic feet to retail
consumers, with a minimum rate of 30
cents per thousand cubic feet, 10 Just
and reasonable and should be made.
1t Is, therefore, ordered:
~ That the rates to be charged
by the Washington Gas Light Com
pany and the Georgetown Gas Light
Company to consumers other than the
United States and the District OF Co
lumbia shall be in accordance with
the following schedules:
For less than sc. 200 cubic feet Of
gas per month. $1.10.
For $4,000 cubic feet and less than
zoe, 900 cubic feet per month, s1.0B.
For 100000 cubic feet and less than
500 900 cubic feet per month, 81.
For 100000 cubic feet and less than
SOC. 900 cubic feet per month, IS cents.
For 100000 cubic feet or more per
month, 80 cents.
The above rates apply to each in
stallation or plant. The consumption
of gas by the same customer in DIFF
ferent plants or locations will not be
combined.
C2) That II any private consumers Of
gas shall not pay monthly any gas
bfll within ten days after the same
shall have been presented. the gas
company may charge and collect from
said customer ten 10) cents additional
for each one thousand u.000) cubic
feet of gas represented by said bill,
as now authorized by law.
(9 That the Washington Gas Light
Company and the Georgetown Gas
Light Company shall file within ten
days from the date Of this order new
schedules embodying the rates herein
prescribed.
az That these rates shall apply to
all gas furnished from the meter
reading period beginning September
IS. 1921, to the meter reading period
beginning March Is, 1922.
(5) That beginning with the meter
reading beginning March IS. 1922, the
rates shall be restored automatically
to uniform rate Ur 70 cents per
/ 900 cubic feet, unless on or before
said date the Commission shall have