The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-11-11
What Would Be a Fair Electric
Light Rate for the D. c.?
BY BILL PRICE.

n the conferences between representatives Of the Public
Utilities Commission and the Potomac Electric Power Com
pany relative to possible compromise upon electric light
rates for the District Of Columbia the o. g. is reported
unwilling to exceed cents per kowat hour while the
Co. representatives refuse consider rate that
We do not know what will be the outcome Of these con-
terences In all probability they will amount to nothing We
90 know that the Potomac Electric Power Company has
been too fairly treated by the Public Utilities Commission
not to be willing to attempt to give prompt relief the
users Of electricity in the District instead of keeping
thing tied up in the local courts.
From the standpoint Of the public the Potomac Electric
Power Company has had far than square deal
the = O. for years. and there genuine willingness
on It's part to aid in solving this problem is in the power
OF the Public Utilities Commission to apply methods that will
make the company sit up and take quick notice There is
local electric light monopoly after of taking Of
ne OF the owner OF the power company the Wash
It is known to everybody in Washington that the Public
UTILITIES Commission has for many years PURP0SELY DE-
L1BERATELY allowed the Potomac Electric Power Company
higher rate electricity than it entitled TO- in order
that the increased earnings should go the Washington Rail-
way and Electric Company in big dividends to aid that
Everybody knows that if the p o. G. had followed its plain
duty would long ago have separated the affairs Of the
companies for the purpose Of fixing car fares and cleo
trio light rates. treating each different and distinct That
would have meant that the electric company would have been
allowed reasonable returns solely upon the proper valuation
Of its properties without any consideration for the financial
condition Of the Washington Railway and Electric Company
The latter would have been allowed collect here
that would have yielded fair return upon the valuations Of
its properties That would have resulted in two sets Of car
fares Washington for the Capital Traction and another
mucn n1gner, W. ~ ana Inc effect would
have been chaotic it is true but the W. R. and might have
suffered the point of serious financial weakness Representa-
Nves OF citizens time and again insisted this separate fare
proposition but in spirit than fair the utilities
mission held to the fare in Washington PUR
PoSELY gave the electric company greater than its
properly valuations entitled to get that the yields
therefrom could and would aid the street railway company
Despite these good intentions of the p u Co. the huge
returns allowed the electric company have mainly to
the payment Of dividends stock Of the railway
company to boost that stock on the local exchange
While all this has been going on the PEOPLE OF WASH
been paying 10 cents kowatt hour to the power company
which has been required to mpound the difference between
that collection and the the Commission deemed fair
collect There today about 100000 in this fund.- all or
part Of which belongs the people Of this city the local
courts not yet having decided that question. -
It is to get rid Of further mpoundng Of electric light rate
collections that the suggestion made that agreement
might be reached The company is still collecting the
10 cents per hlowatt hour but the Utilities Commission has
said that all above 1877 cents hour should not be collected
Now, let bear in mind that the Commission after exam
lining the books Of the T. Co., decided that the 767 rate
Continued in Last Two Celumnsl