Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-05-16

turned into q sinking fund to provide
for the final extinguishment or the
funded debt. The money set aside TOT
the sinking fund shall be devoted 70
the retirement of the obligations OF the
district or invested in such securities
as savings banks are allowed to hold.
..It il the claim Of the district" says
the decree, that additional revenue is
required to meet the requirements OF
the first mentioned provision and that
the rate changes proposed are neces-
sary to accomplish the purpose. and
will produce an estimated increase OF
10 to 13 thousand dollars q year.
ain this case we have endeavored to
make a detailed investigation and study
of the rate conditions and practices OF
the water district. To accomplish this
our examination has been far-reach1ng
and has called for statistics OF revenue
received from different classes of sery-
ices, and of operating costs. together
with complete census OF the various
services supplied.
1.-The present rates are Of long stand
ing and were the outgrowth of those
originally maintained by its predeces-
sor, the Augusta Water Company,
from which it derived a contract with
the city of Augusta, containing many
rate conditions and obligations. Such
rates and practices as were later adopt
ed by the district do not as whole
appear to meet present conditions, and
may be said in many instances to be
unscientific in structure, inadequate in
that they do not cover various uses,
and are unlawfully discriminatory"
Domestic Services
Commenting upon the rates for do
mes services, the commissions order
says: 1.-The past and present custom
of the district has been to apply a
charge for the first or initial fixtures
only, no consideration being given to
extra services or fixture& of the same
class. - When the meter system is
adopted by the customer or the water
company, each for its own advantage.
it appears to demonstrate beyond doubt
that failure on the part of the Angus
ia Water District to impose a reason
able charge for extra fixtures has re-
suited in much loss Of revenue and at
the same time has created condition
unfair to many of it's patrons. The
situation Is unique, in that it differs
from the practice of other we'll man
aged water companies or districts"
Private Fire Protection
The decree of the Commission care
fully considers the matter Of private
fire protection, pointing to the fact
that no charge has been made except
in some instances for such service. it
being the contention Of the district
that such installations conserve the
use Of water and have demonstrated
a saving not only to itself but to
property.
"All services must pay a reasonable
recompense," declares the Commits
sion in its decree. "A, free service i'm
poses an extra payment on others.
which is contrary to the provisions Of
the law and. constitutes unlawful dis
elimination. 1t has been so deter
| mined by Commission and Courts"
Municipal Services
"City services consist Of the follow
ing: Hydrents, 14S stand-pipes, for
street sprinkling, g.; watering troughs.
S. display fountain, /; for seven
schools, two fire stations and city
building the fixtures or services OF
ali kinds amount to a total of 21S.
For all of said services the City Of
Augusta pays by virtue of contract a
yearly sum of $1,000.
1.-THE operation of the district re-
| lating to municipal services was fully
considered by this Commission in U.
No. 1913, p. U. r. 1916, L, 81.
I'm the instant case We are forced
| to the conclusion reached by this
Commission in U. No. 12S, wherein it
! is sta ted:
1T, therefore, seems that if any con-
tract ever existed, it became invalid
under the provisions of the act Great
ing the Augusta Water District,
wherein the legislature first under
| took to regulate rates for Augusta.
! So that it was unnecessary, even for
the more extended provisions Of the
Public Utilities act, to make this dis
criminatory practice unlawful
I'VE shall order the setting aside
OF the contract conditions and sub
stitute therefor rates which shall be
more commensurate with the SER
vices rendered.
Rates in General
| "The present rate schedule Of the
Augusta Water District is deficient in
! many respects and therefore unscien-
| tific insits structure. The amendments
what may be called the base rates
for domestic and commercial services.
A change in the faucet rate reaches
| practically all domestic customers;
likewise, an increase in meter rates
completes the distribution of the in
| cfedSeS contemplated.
| while it is estimated by the dis
trict that the proposed increases will
| produce between $4,000 and $4,000,
we find that such expected result will
not be realized. The following tabu-
lation more nearly approximates what
| may be expected.
Dwellings first faucets 2949
at 81 increase. ........... .$2949.00
| Hand hose GAS
! at $500 increas ........... 1296.00
Lawn sprinklers 3S
at $500 increase. ..... 10000
| 1923 revenue for meter services
25,545 at 10G6.... -. =. 2554.50
| s69S9. so
aside from the private fire pro-
lection and municipal services, our
| study Of the census compiled by the
| district shows that customers sup
! piled at fat or fixture rates have
| extra fixtures of various kinds to-
falling 2431, for which no charge is
made. IL on such extras a nominal
! charge be assessed, the burden will
be more equitably distributed and
will produce about $4,000 year.
! Private fire protection at reason
| able rates will produce, we believe,
! about $500.
For municipal services, we shall
establish fixed charges which will
| approximate a total revenue of $500
| or $4,000 in excess of that now paid
by the city.
IN doing this we are merely re-
quiring compliance with the laws Of
the state Of Maine. 1t is no longer a
matter of controversy that munich
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