Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1925-11-20
Gas Co. Explains
Reasons Given For Proposed Increase
In Rates

Columbus, O., Nov II, 1926
TO THE NEWSPAPERS ON THE
LOGAN SYSTEM:
Through our local manager of your
city we are transmitting to you copy
of "Notice of Increased Rates"
We feel that some explanation is
due you and your readers and our
patrons as well.
You are familiar with our publicity
campaign of over year ago in which
we clearly proved our contention OF
our need and of our right to a re-
adjustment of rates for natural gas.
You are also aware that we filed
scheduled with the Ohio Public Util-
tiles Commission, calling for 75cent
service charge in addition to the
45c-50c- 55c-60c rate for gas which
had previously prevailed. This was a
compromise rate, ana no fairer pro-
vision could have been made because
he service charge is now recognized
in practically every State in the
Union as the fairest way to properly
apportion the cost of each patron
served. 1t is firmly established in
utility rates in very large number
of Ohio communities and has been
adopted in scores of towns and cities
within the State since the objections
to our rates were instigated.
Our proposal was acquiesced in by
68 communities we serve, and in the
four communities protesting the pro-
tests were not general or whole
hearted, but were engendered by a
few political self-seeking individuals
and some small groups. The Cover
nor, then protested in behalf of the
| 6S communities and thus involved
them in the case and it went to the
| Commission.
| When the matter came to hear
ing the opposition evidently realizing
| that the rate asked could be more
than justified by us, resorted at once
to obstructive measures rather than
the consideration of the matter of
rate Justification, and because of lack
Of dmectness in the language of the
statutes covering the makeup of
schedule, took advantage of legal
technicalities that would have delay
ed relief to the company interminably
Therefore, We filed the present tenn
porary schedule under, which we are
now operating under bond.
III lne hearings UelOI6 IHc SOIIl-
mission which have been conducted in
termittenly for the past six months,
and which have occasioned a vast
volume of time, work and expense, At
has been proven that the present
value of the company's property used
and useful in the public service is all
and more than we estimated, and that
legal return based upon this valu-
alton would justify rate substani-
ally higher than we have asked here
tofore or that which is provided III
the new rate schedule just filed.
The Company Realized that It's
practice of years of fully and truth
| fully advising its consumers had been
unfairly challenged, and that it must
prove its case. This it has done and
with more to follow.
The opposition to the Company's
first proposal has accomplished moth
ling except to disturb the friendly re-
lation which have always existed be-
tween the Company and it's patrons,
to create an enormous engineering and
legal expense to the company that
must reflect itself in increased rates
to be paid by consumers of gas, and
finally the establishing of a higher
rate than the Company originally sug-
gested. Colt