Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-27
LIGHT RATES CUT
|SSEEN BY COvELL
Great Increase in Consump-
tion and Reduction of
Losses Given as Cause.

Another substantial reduction in
electric current rates next Winter
was forecast today by Maj. w. e. r.
covell. Assistant District Engineer
Commissioner. assigned to public
utilities
LAS a result of the tremendous
growth in the consumption of electric
energy in Washington, stimulated by
a 25 per cent reduction January l.,
1925, and 6 per cent reduction
January !, 1926" said Maj. Covell,
"the outlook appears very favorable
for a further reduction next Winter,
approximately equal to that made
last January"
The amount available for reduc-
ton, according to the profit-sharing
plan in force. Maj. CovelI explained, is
somewhat greater for the first SIX
months of this year than 1t was Tor
the corresponding period last year, in
spite of the fact that allowance has
been made for the $4,000 reduction
per year just made in the charges
for street lighting. If the same ratio
holds good for the remaining six
months, he pointed out, the reduction
this year may slightly exceed that of
last year
80 Per Cent Increase.
The Increase in the consumption of
electrical energy is shown by the
number of kilowatt hours sold to con-
sumers. This amounted to 1873 100000
in 1928, 100000 in 1924, and 49,
ooo. 900 in 1925--a 80 per cent increase
in two years. Judging from the first
four months Of the year. Maj. Covell
Y
ceed 200 100000 kilowatt hours, or
more than q so per cent increase over
1923.
The electrical department of the
District Government under Warren B.
Hadley also has felt the effect of the
reduced charges for electricity
through a material increase in permits
for wiring houses-an increase which
has been SO large as to seriously han
dicap this department because the
number Of inspectors has not been
proportionately increased. The num-
her of permits issued for electrical
wiring over a period of Ave years
were as follows:
Fiscal year ending June 80. 1921
6,217. 49,.
Fiscal year ending June 80. 1922
S,029.
Fiscal year ending June 80. 1928
9,791.
Fiscal year ending June 80, 1924
9,495.
Fiscal year ending June 80. 1926.
13,109.
Record Expected This Year.
The number of permits issued DUR
ing the fiscal year just ended Is not
available. but Is expected to reach
tx nf0
Another indirect effect of the
profit sharing plan which started
january l, 1926" said Maj. Covell,
''has been the reduced cost per kilo
watt hour of generating and dis
tributing the energy. Since 1928 the
cost of generation has dropped 2 of a
cent per kilowatt hour, not much
per unit, but more than a third of
million dollars total. The electricity
unaccounted for. such as transmits
sion losses, ETC., has dropped from
23. per cent In 1923 to 1873 per cent
for the first four months of 1926
ali of which Is reflected in decreased
costs and lower charges to the
public.
with continual increase in cleo
trical consumption. Washington In
December, 1928--or less than two
and one-llalf years from the present
date--should reach household rate
Of 6 cents for lighting and cents
for heating and poWer--a rate which
would be one of the cheapest on the
Atlantic seaboard."