The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-08-13
FUEL GAS COMPANY PREPARING
FOR HARD FIGHT THIS FALL

cations for increase in rates, as have
all other gas compa MES, but OF course
IL Is not satisfied 1t Is one OF the
largest companies in the state. aud
when It sees how easy II was for IN"
Hope Natural Gas company and other
smaller companie. to have their rates
Increased. It naturally feeis that 1t has
been slighted and that 1t Is descrv-
ing Of some Of the gravy "a well. In
1918 this company was given an IN
crease and then in 1919 it was given
another, both OF which raises were 20
meet the increased cost Of pr5ducu"n
und the general increase In cost ~
everything entering into the EaLpuS!-
ness, But now all this has changed.
gas oar be produced FOR less money than
in 1918 OF 1880. yet the companies are
, asking for an increase, and, 30 far. they
have been getting It,
Looks Unreasonable
In the decision granting an Increase
Of rates to the United Fuel Gas COM
pany on December 10, 1919. the public
service commission said: "Durl%1 the
last year above named year ending
Nav 81. 1919 applicant sold to It's in
dustrial consumers IN Charleston ap-
to its domestic consumers approx
mately 100000 NJ cubic feet. a. an
average price Of 1880 per cubic
feet and during the same period /,
sold to lts consumers IN the city a.
Huntington apron ilnStely l.35O.VOh NJ
cubic feet, at an average price oil
1890 per NJ cubic feet. OF III" i"tAl
gas sold in Huntington more thAil
j !. 600. 900 VI cubic feet wns TO domestic
consumers. honcc the comparatively
largo difference in tho average price
received for gas In the two cities.
II the United Fuel Gas company conId
sell gas at an average prlca OF Loo
per thousand cubic feet In 1918 ana lvl'
IN Charleston, IL would seem mat the
proposed increase, which In more than
treble the rate received before ne IN
crcasa was granted in 1919. 10 prcpos-
tcrous Surely, II the increnae eA9ulu
be granted, tho Unitel Fuel Gas com
pany would earn fair return upon
its invested capital "a we'll as alio"
for some much needed improvements N
he company's service, such as nuli"-
Ing new and larger gas INES 10 'rahS-
port gns ou' &C West virginia. 1t IL
very hard matter 10 determine JUST
what tho United Fuel Gas company mas
been paying In dividends since All inc
stock Is ownod by the co!upbin HhS
and Electric company and tho ONO
FNIel Supply company, IN tho propor'on
OF 81 and ~ per cent rcSpect!''i!'
However, /. Is reported In well IN
formed circles in Charleston tha' TINS
company paid Sc per cent diVioend
last year. the truth or this, untor'u
nstely could not hc subatAntiattd. II
mr. fnilnI
IN. CAGE. then Il would be unjust ana
unfair for the public service commits
sion eynn to consider the Application
for an increase, but in the past Su"h
matters a. this have not boon consid-
cred by tho commission. What A COM
pany has earned in tho pas ~ OF n"
interest TO the public service commas
sion, It Is concerned only In providing
that the company will receive lair
return" in he future, and TINS is'r
return- Is determined without any re-
gard for misma naEement or OF previous
earnings. The public utility business
in West Virginia has come to DC one
OF tho most lucrative forms OF Invest
ment. no matter what misfortune
company may undergo or how many
mana gcd the state. through the puohc
service commission. guarantees lair
return OF per cent on the money IN
vested and per cent for depreciation.
1t Is Just the old case 81 Heads win
tail. YOU lose" with the public utilities
tossing the coin.
what People rhink
"If there ars not some changes IN
the personne, OF the public service
commission before the United Fuel Hae
companys application Is heard. IN ;u.
probability an increase will be. granted.
Such is the Judgment OF number OF
Charleston people who are in touch
with the doings OF the commission h11
who are familiar with Its record IN
.p:her Rpplicrt;ana for increases t. EaS
companiea The public serv'rr comm'H-
sion ia very careful to prevent tho poo
pie from taking any advantage OF me
gas companies. Ard whenever posSio<'
i. throws the burden Of proof on the
people, making them show that the m
crease demanded ~ not Justified. rather
than making tho gas companies prove
that tho Increase Is just. The ways or
the tranSgrcssor may be hard. hut the
, harder