Norwich bulletin., 1921-02-15
REVIEWS STATUTES ON
 GAS AND ELECTRIC PLANTS,


 After "a study of the statutes relating to the duties of gas and electrical com missioners in conducting a municipally | owned plant and the duties of the public | utilities commission, as defined by the l statutes, the following has been submit ted to The Bulletin;
 The operation of municipal gas and | electric department is now provided for | l by certain sections of chapter 30 of the 1 Statutes. l Section 502 provides that a municipal l ity may furnish service and that any l person or corporation aggrieved by the | refusal of the municipality to serve them may appeal to the commissioners. "The commissioners shall then hear all the parties interested and judge whether, under the -circumstances of the case, it is reasonable to require such town, city or borough to furnish gas or electricity, in any manner covered by the claims in the tappeal."
 Section 50S provides that when the mu- nicipality shall obtain a plant, a board of gas and electrical commissioners shall be appointed, ito whom shall be en- trusted, subject to any ordinances or by laws, established by any town. by the common council of any city or the war den and burgesseS of any borough, the operation, control, management, repair of plant, and the manufacture, generation and distribution of gas and electricity, in- cluding the purchase of supplies, the hir- ing and discharge of employees. and of a suitable clerk and superintendent, and all the business relating to such manufac- ture, generation and distribution, and to the methods, amounts. times, prices and quality of supply to each person and cor : poration, the collection of bills, the keep ing of accounts, and the custody of money received for gas or electricity, or otherwise, and the payment of bills in- . cured in said business. This section (5o3) further provides |, that said section shall, when required by | the common council, make a statement z of their doings and of the business, re- , ceipts, disbursements, etc, in the detail :, required, but does not give the common . council any means of verifying such statements, nor any control over the op- eration of the department other than through the enactment of ordinances = Section 505 provides that the books and . accounts shall be kept in a form to be prescribed by the board of commissioners = herein provided for 2 in such detail as the board of commissioners may re- {, lquire."-
 ]. It (5O5) further provides that the se- lectmen of a town, the mayor of a city or the warden and burgesses of a bor- ough, may direct any additional returns to be made by said board of commission CTS. or by said superintendent and clerk at such times and in such detail as they shall order
 Section 506 provides that the price tc be charged for gas or electricity shall be fixed and shall not be changed oftener than once in three months, after being advertised at least one month in the newspaper
 It (506) provides further that suct price shall be fixed on basis of not less than five 15) per centum of the plant in. vestment, depreciation of not less thar five (5) per centum of this investment and a net profit of eight per centum (s per cent) on this investment. There does not, however, appear to be any appea from the rate as fixed by the board O. commissioners.
 Under Public Utilities Commission.
 If municipal1y operated gas and cleo tric property were placed under the gen eral jurisdiction of the public utilitie commission, the same as the so-caIlet privately owned public utilities, it woult $ then become subject to the existing pub lie utility laws, which determine the DOW CTS of the pubic utilities commission ant the manner and extent to which pubit utility companies are re- yulated for tn purpose of protecting their customers
 IItSo SldtuIeS are supplemented fTOT time to time by special orders from tn utilities commission and by the specifi r orders covering individual and specis matters of operation and constructio which may, from time to time, b brought to the commission.
 Section S62o provides that the superio court may. by appropriate decree c process, enforce any of the provisions c chapter 12S, which relates to public ser vice corporations.
 Section 3621 provides that the utilitie commission shall keep fully informed a to the plant and equipment and the man ner of operation of all public servic companies, insofar as this involves tn safety of the public and the employees ( such company, "and may order such req sonable repairs or alterations in sue plant or equipment, or such changes the manner of operation. as may be reg sonably necessary for public safety or fo the 'heaith or safety of said employees"
 Sections 1922 and 3623 provide ths any person or employe may make con plaint to the utilities commission of an defects in any portion of the plant ( {equipment of any public service compan which may endanger the safety of u public or of the employees and that tf utilities commission shall first fix a tin for hearing of the complaint and the make an order in accordance with Il findings.
 Section S625 provides that every publ service company shall immediately con ply with any order, and that failure : to do shall incur a fine of not more thi one thousand 0.000) dollars for eat offense with liability for double damag in case of injury or damage to any pc son.
 Section S62s provides that "tae COT mission shall have power to fix the sta dard measure fer the sale of iIluminati1 gas by meter and the standard of illun hating and heating power, purity al quality of gas, to fix the initial efficien, Of electric lamps furnished by electr companies and to investigate and mal orders regarding the pressure at whi
 gas and the voltage at which electrici shall be distributed"
 Section S630j provides that upon pei tfon of any person and the payment . one CD dollar the utilities cornmissi ~ shall cause to be inspected any electric; gas or water meter used in supplyi,
 such petitioner, and further that 't
 commission shall cause to be approv
 every electric, gas or water meter
 CUT THIS OUT-IT IS WORTH MoNI
 Cut out this slip, enclose with 5c a mail it tO Foley 2 Co 9SaS diaId 4