Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1925-04-02
EAGLE RIVER, WISCONSIN, APRIL 2, 1926

Rates Tor electric service on the
farm that give promise of proving sat
isfactory to both farmer and power
company have been established by the
Adirondack Power and Light Corpora
ton of Schenectady, N. Y. These
rates, which are not any Indication OF
what may or may not be possible in
other sections of the country, seem
nevertheless to be a real contribution
toward the solution of this pressing
question.
In the case of the Adirondack com
pany, the density of population, the
character of the country, the kind of
farms served and the cost Of mate
rails and of line construction have
been such that these rates could ap-
ply. Such considerations enter into
every effort TO take electric lines to
farms.
The farmers problem is to get cleo
trio service at cost low enough to
make it profitable for him to use it.
The utility company's problem is to
supply the service at price that win
AFFORD lair return on the capital in
vested
No Disappolntments So Far
The Adirondack plan is the culmina-
ton of two years intensive study, and,
according to officials of the company,
no case has yet been brought to their
attention which cannot be taken care
of under the provisions of its formula.
In fact, the company now stands ready
to extend service anywhere within its
franchise area The reply, 1--WE will
extend service If so many signatures
are sercured," etc., so common with
utility companies to inquiries for SER
vice, is now changed by the Adiron-
dack Company to, I'VE will gladly ex-
tend service for you, and the terms
will be so and so, in accordance with
our tariff regulations. -
The outstanding feature of the plan,
az filed with the New York State Pub
lie Service Commission, is table from
which it is an easy matter to deter
mine the terms of any rural extension.
This gives the minimum monthly bill
and deposit necessary, according to
the number Of customers per mile.
The plan provides for two ways Of
sharing this expense, fat minimum
monthly bill or a lower minimum
monthly bill plus cash deposit by the
customer.
Farms operated by tenants where
the owner would hesitate to make a
cash payment toward the line, and
where the tenant would also be reluc-
tant to make a cash deposit to secure
electricity for 4 farm which he might
vacate in o. year or so, are expected to
favor the minimum bin plan. In the
case where the owner occupies the
farm, the other plan OF a deposit and
q lower minimum bill will undoubted-
" be favored.
How the Plan Works Out
In explaining this table, John ;, L.
Haley. commercial manager of the
Adirondack Company, pointed out thai
where there are eight farmers to the
mile desiring electric service, his com
pany would build the line, without cost
to the farmer, under terms whereby
each farmer would use not less than
s. worth OF electricity month, as ex-
planned above. Where there are six
farmers to the mile, each farmer would
be required to pay a minimum bill OF
81 per month or deposit $3.50 with the
company, as part cost of the extern
sion, and thereby assure minimum
bin Of s..
Where there are four farmers to the
mile. the minimum bin would be S.,
provided the customer does not desire
to share in the extension expense. Ia
case he does, there are three ways
open to him. He can deposit $3.50 and
accept a minimum bill of IS; deposit
1856 and accept minimum bill Of 81;
or deposit $500 and his minimum bin
win be but So.
Each farmers case is treated indi.
vfdually-that is, one farmer in the
sf1-to-a-mile extension can agree to a
minimum bill of 81, whereas his neigh
Dor can deposit $3.50 and have mini
mum bill of So.
City Rates for Farmers
Service supplied to customers from
these rural lines will be charged for
at the regular city rates. This is an
other point in which the Adirondack
plan differs from others, it being the
company's belief that with a low price
for energy the farmer can economical
~ use it in large quantities. Other
companies have felt that they must
charge q higher rate Der kiIOWatt hour
than obtains IN the cities or that they
must have a service charge in addi-
ton to so much per kilowatt hour for
all electricity used. The Adirondack
Company believes that with rates on
che farm as low as they are in the
city the farmer can economically use
considerable energy and that this
abundant use Of service will make it
possible for the company to extend it's
lines to serve farm customers.
One of the greatest obstacles in
present day farm electrifcation is that
when an extension is desired not all
the residents along the proposed line
win agree to share the expense. Then,
after a few have assumed the expense
and the line is installed, the others
viii ask for service and there is no
way to compel them to assume pro-
portional share of the installation cost
Under this new plan, say, four farm
ers to the mile may desire electric
service. They each agree to a mini
mum monthly bill of Sc, or perhaps
an oh dan0sifa $500 in cash and agree