Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1921-05-10
ROME CAS'RATE
CUT ASPENALTY,
,REBATEORDERED
Commission Acts Stern
ly When Require
ments Are Not Met

ATLANTA, May 1O.-A decision
of statewide Importance was rem
dered by the Georgia Railroad com
mission late Monday afternoon, when
1t siashed the rates CT the Rome Mu-
ncipal Gas company, private con-
Germ, from So per thousand cubic
feet gross to $3.50 and ordered the
corporation to rebate each patron
so cents per thousand cubic feet on
all statements for the month of
April on account of poor service and
failure to make specified improve
ments in its plant
This action of the board is inter-
preted as expressing its attitude to-
ward all public service utilities grant
ed increase recently, and its deter
mination to require all such cOrpo-
rations to meet all requirements of
orders in rendering a service COM
mensurate with new rates.
The decision Of the Jmmission.
which came after the Rome company
had argued its case, is severe IN
dictment of the service rendered by
the corporation. 1t declares that
the maximum rate prescribed granted
on the condition certain Improve
ments were made by the company.
Both these conditions and the COM
missions order concerning the quail
ity of gas, have been ignored, to a
large extent, it is stated.
From THE evidence submitted in
this complaint" reads the order,
"the commission is satisfied that the
standard of gas heretofore ordered
by it has not been maintained, nor
even approximated during and since
the month of April.
improvements Not Made
"The maximum rate prescribed by
the commission was conditioned upon
the making by the company, within
definite periods, of certain improve
ments at its plant and in its distribu-
tion system This order has not been
complied with in certain material
points," it is stated.
City officials of Rome appeared
before the commission two weeks ago
@o present evidence that the gas COM
,Jany was not meeting conditions
specified by the board when it grant
ed the increase last September. 1t
was disclosed that although the cor
poration bears the name of the
Rome Municipal Gas company, it is
privately owned. Officials of the
concern and Barry Wright, Rome
attorney, appeared Monday morning
to show cause why the rates should
not be reduced.
In mentioning the requirements
not met by the company, the decis-
ion continues:
"The company has been heretofore
directed to maintain a monthly aver
age standard of 575 B. T. U.
"The gas served the public has
unquestionably been far below this
standard, and at times practically
valueless. The company's attention
has been called to the inferior quail
ity Of coal apparently used by it. 1t
has been repeatedly warned that it
must improve its service by furnish
ing gas of better quality.
Rate Cut to $3.50
"Our orders and iniunctiOns have
been, to large extent, disregarded.
''It is, therefore, ordered, that ap-
plicable to all gas supplied in May,
1921. and thereafter, and until the
further order of this commission,
the maximum rate to be charged for
gas bv the Rome Municipal Gas COM
pany shall be $3.50 per 1000 cubic
feet, with a discount of 10 cents per
1000 cubic feet on all bills paid on
or before the 10th day of each
month.
"Ordered further, that the Rome
Municipal Gas company do make rap
aration on all bills rendered May l.,
1921, for gas furnished patrons dur
ing the month of April, 1921, in the
sum of SO cents per 900 cubic feet
from the maximum rate in effect
April /, 1921. and that no service
be discontinued where the said rate,
less the rebate here ordered, is ten
dered or paid"
TIL commission is observing closely
all public service utilities granted in
creases in rate, a member stated, and
in cases where complaints are made
and it is developed conditions have
not been met, the rates will be re-
duced. One of the chief reasons IN
raising rates, it was pointed out, was
to improve the class of service, and
where corporations fail to meet sreci-
fications, they will be cited to ap-
bear before the commission.
-
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