Evening star., 1921-03-19
Testifies Before Rate Hearing fol
Potomac Electric Company.

The Potomac Electric Power Conn
pany will have to spend $s,OO0,oOO in
the next ten years In adding 10 It's
plant, in order to keep pace with the
growth Of the city. according to testi-
mony presented at the opening OF the
hearing today on the petition OF the
company for continuation OF the ex-
listing rates for current.
The present rate for lighting cur
rent to households is sh cents per
cents on April 1. unless the commits
sion acts in the meantime. There
would be reductions In the scheduies
for wholesale users on April 1 II
new order is not issued.
Col. Peter Junkersfeld. consulting
engineer of Stone & Webster, Incor-
porated. who recently made a survey
Of the company's plant. told the com .
mission that the above figures Will
have to be spent between now and
1880 to permit the company to meet
the demand for service.
Point to Show Need.
The point OF the testimony was to
show that the company will have to
be allowed a higher rate of return on
the value Of It's property in order to
attract the necessary capital to carry
out the extension program.
The witness said he found it would
be better for the company to extend
the Benning power station than to
build a new station elsewhere. He
characterized it as one of the most
efficient plants for its size and age
in the country.
In estimating the amount the COM
pany must spend in the next ten years
Col. Junkersfeld figured the average
increase in the companys output of
current at 1000 kilowatts a year.
new generator will be needed at
the Benning plant in 1928, the wit
ness said. and another in 1928. A
new switch gear that would cost
$500.000 also is needed. he said.
Outlines Extensive Program.
The extension program for ten
years. as outlined by the witness, fol-
lows:
In 1921. expend s57s, 900; 1922. $751;
900: 1923. $11S1.000; 1924. $3.50. 900;
1925. s965.000; 1926. $4,000; 1927
SSH, 900: 1928, s1.25s.000: 1929. s21l,-
600. and 1880. $4,000. This gives a
the actual cost of construction work
at present prices. with no allowance
for the general corporate expenses
incident to the development.
The witness estimated the output
of the power company at 230, 600, 600
kilowatt hours a year.
In answer to questions from Attor-
ney S. r. Bowen, for the company, the
engineer stated that it is more eco
nomical to have one power plant to
develop current for the Washington
Railway and Electric and the Poto-
mac Electric Power companies than if
each company had a separate plant.
Chairman -kutZ of the commission
questioned the witness as to whether
the railway company is getting all
the advantages of the Joint plant
The chairman asked the witness il
he did not feel that in such a join,
use the companies should share
equally in the advantages of a single
plant.
Suggests benefit for Public.
The witness replied il might not al.
ways be true that each company
would share equally
Attorney Yellott. for the company
suggested that since probably 100 pei
cent OF the users of current are rider.
on street cars. whatever benefits re.
suit from joint operation go to the
public in any event.
Chairman kutz, who believes stree
car riders should pay the cost of run.
ming the cars and electric light user.
the cost of that service, called Mr.
Yellott's attention to tls case of
large concern that has an electri,
bill Of thousands of dollars. but doe.
not have occasion to use the stree
cars in it's business.
Col. Junkersfeld then presented con
siderable testimony as TO the rate.
at which securities are selling IL
various parts of the country to show
that a substantial rate of return OF
property is needed now in ordel
TO borrow money.
In telling of the plans for develop
ing the power plant here. he said tn,
pian has been SO worked ont thai
: IL will be done in steps ana can b,
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