The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-08-06
 ARE CHARGED
 TO POWER FIRM
Huntsville And Gadsden Firms Claim Customers
 Ares Enfced Away
tstate Capital Bureau.)


 Alabama Power company was charged with engaging in unfair competition in inducing customers of the Tri-Cities use of gas with electricity, in petition filed by the gas company with the Ala bama Public Service Commission today.
 Both the Tri-Cities Gas company, of Gadsden, and the Huntsville Gas com pany, of Huntsville, appeared before the Public Service Commission as inter- venors to oppose the petition of the Ala bama Power company to extend its rate schedule known as classification ID" to restaurants. hospitals, hotels and cooking schools. This rate of the Ala bama Power company is what is known as a combination lighting and cooking rate. The gas companieo were repre- sented by Goodhue and Lusk, attorneys of Gadsden and Cooper and Cooper, of Huntsville.
 It was charged that the power com pany is making a rate in this instance which is dispropoFtionately low as com pared to their other rates for electric ity in order to take business away from competitive gas companies, and that such rate is unjust and discriminatory as against other customers of the power company; that the rate will constitute unfair competition and that the com mission ought not ito allow it to be ex- tended. 5a
 Charge Unfairness
 In the petitioned filed by the Tri- Cities Gas company it was stated:
 This petitioner further ayers that the Alabama Power company is now en- gagged in unfair competition in inducing customers of petitioner to replace the use of gas by the use of electricity for cooking and heating purposes, by rep resenting to the customers of this peti- tioner that the use of gas is fast be- coming obsolete and that gas plants will in short time discontinue their opera tions, and that in few years every- body will be using electricity and mo- body will be using gas; by the further representation to them, by means of un- faircalculations on the ra . and amount of electricity used, that each customer can save considerable money on their cooking and heating operations by the installation and use of electrical equip ment at the rates furnished by the Ala bama Power cOmnAny; that the Ala bama Power compapy is engaged in the sale at retail of electric stoves and ranges, which said Alabama Power com pany sells at large profit, just what percentage this petitioner is now ad- vised, but the books and records of the Alabama Power company would show. the profits; and petitioner is without power to ascertain such facts and seeks at the hands of this honorable commis- sion it's power in obtaining for use in determining this question what profit the Alabama Power is making upon the sale of the stoves and ranges; and that, in order t6make such sale and install such electrical equipment, the Alabama Power company is in part seeking to obtain "a reduction in its rates at the hands of this commission"
 Buy Equipment, Is Charge
 It was further charged by the gas company that the Alabama Power com- pany has induced customers of the gas company at GAdsden to part with their gas equipment, at avery low and made quate price, as part payment on electri- cal equipment furnished by the Alabama Power company; and that the Alabama Power company sends the gas equip ment so obtained tos other points in Ala bama where the Powt, company owns gas plants and sells it to customers at a large profit. It was further alleged in the petition of 'the Fri Cities Gas com pany with reference to the Alabama Power company that it has been en- gagged in furnishing electricity at a greatly. reduced rate unauthorized by Cities Gas company declared that it law"
 In concluding it's petition, the Tri- ''seeks at the hands of this commission thorough investigation of the actions and conduct of the Alabama Power com pany in Gadsden, Ala, wherein it is furnishing electric energy to patrons of this petitioner in an unfairly comped- tive manner and that such action of the Alabama Power compaI J is unjust, un- reasonable and some measure of pro- tection should be offered to this peti- tiOner for, the purpose of preventing such action and conduct on the part of the Alabama Power company"
 The Alabama Power company was represented at the hearing aoday by Per ry Turner, who filed a motion to strike out many parts of the petition of in- terventiOn on the ground that they un- duly broadened the issues. The eommis- sion took the motion under advisement and by agreement of parties the case was continued.