The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1922-05-26
RAILROAD BODY
| IN PRELIMINARY
UTILITY RULES
Decides Against Emergency In
creases for Gas and Water
Companies Here
TO PROBE FURTHER
Permanent Rates to be Fixed
Following Full Investigation
OF the Cases

The state railroad commission to.
day announced decision in preliminary
requests in two Bismarck utility cases
the Bismarck Gas company and the
Bismarck Water Supply company.
In both cases the railroad commits.
sion announced denial of emergency
rates asked, and decided that perma-
ment rates would be fixed after inves-
Itigation. the commission mot making
final decision at this time.
The Bismarck Gas company case
came before the commission because
of the automatic discontinuance of the
25 per cent surcharge on May i. The
petitioner suggested new schedule
of rates, representing decrease from
the rate charged before May Of
about Is pct. according to the com
pany statement. The railroad commits
sion held that the rates which existed
before the surcharge would continue
until permanent rates are fixed after
valuation. This represents a decrease
of 25 per cent.
. Rates Considered.
According to the commission order
the net rates which existed with the
25 per cent surcharge were $2.S1 IA
per thousand for the first 10000 cubic
feet or less, and decreasing = with
greater consumption in varying
amounts to minimum rate Of
s1.62 1-2 per thousand for all over, TO-,
600 cubic feet.
The proposed rate of the Gas CON-
pany, with the surcharge deducted
and the 20-cent discount also Topped
off, was S3.65 per thousand for the
first 10000 cubic feet and decreasing
in varying amounts to minimum OF
$1.55 per Thousand for over 10000
cubic feet.
The rate fixed .by the commission
temporarily is 1925 per thousand for
the first 10000 cubic feet and de-.
Increasing in varying amounts to a min
imum of $1.3O per thousand for TO-
| 900 cubic feet or over,
The Gas company held the rate 1t
proposed was necessary to prevent
confiscation of its property, and cited
the increased cost OF coal because OF
the coal strike as one important fac
tOr.
| The commissions order encludcs.
4 Giving full consideration to all the
evidence of record in this proceeding
the commission is Of the opinion and
finds that confscation does not exist,
that the temporary rates applied for
are not necessary for relief from con.
tiscation and that the rates established
by this commissions order number "a
in docket 1901 should be continued
in force as temporary rates pending
valuation and further investigation as
provided by law.
The commission also took notice OF
the complaint of E. G. Patterson as to
quality of gas, it's order stated. and
said the company should within 6o
days comply with the commission $
| order to provide calorimeter and to
test its product periodically.
Water Figures Conflict.
The Bismarck Water Supply order
was BRIEF. the commission not going
into tho matter at length in consider.
ing the emergency matter. 1t stated
that there was difference of $25o'00O
IN the valuation claims by the city
! and the company, that the operating
statements presented by both sides
are at variance and that 1t would moi
make an emergency rate until further
investigation. 1t stated that its en-
gineering department must make an
appraisal of the property. i.
The commission order said that II
rhe water company statement were
correct an increase would be justified
Briefs have not yet been submitted D!
the parties.