The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-03-08
GAS SLASH
IS FORCED
BY TIMES
Reduction to 95 Cents for
Thousand Cubic Feet
Ordered by State.
STORIES CITE PROFITS
Commissioner Ellis Makes
Study of Schedule.

A reduction of gas rates within
sixty days to 90 cents a thousand
cubic feet for domestic consumers
was ordered Monday evening by the
public service commission. The re-
ductions ordered, according to the
commission, will save the consumers
1911, 900 year.
The announcement was made by
Commissioner Howell Ellis, who
stated that he had made an investi-
cation upon orders of the commits
sion. a,
Undoubtedly the stories in The
Times some weeks ago concerning
the profits of the Citizens Gas Com
pany had a great deal to do with the
orders Of the commission to me to
investigate" said Ellis.
The order to cut rates will become
effective only after the completion
of construction work and the in
stallation of new equipment,
In announcing his findings, Ellis
gave no figures as to the basis on
which he had arrived at the new
schedule of rates.
10 Cent Cut
Under the order, the first 10000
cubic feet will carry rate Of SIS
cents a thousand, reduction Of 10
cents per thousand.
The statement by Ellis. ac-
companying the announcement says:
"a reduction of gas rates in Indi-
annapolis will follow the approval to-
day by the public service commits
sion of a schedule of lower rates
submitted by the Citizens Gas Com
pany at the request of the commits
sion. The new schedule will result
in a reduction of approximately
1911 900 a year to gas users. The
new rates will become effective i'm
mediately' upon the completion of
certain construction work now In
progress at the Prospect st. plant of
the company, which will be finished
in from thirty to sixty days. A re-
duction of 10 cents per 1000 cubic
feet applies to all domestic users.
The present net rate is $1.05 per
1000 cubic, while under the new
schedule the net rate will be 95 cents
per 1000 cubic for the first 10000
cubic feet of gas consumed.
Every Consumer Affected
UNs kl.~ 10 no7 oooz,,,,nara oF ft,a
company, 72,27e are in the first step
of the schedule with an average con-
sumption Of 2,43S cubic feet of gas a
month, so that the greater part of
the reduction is to the small domes-
tic consumer. In addition to the
new schedule of reduced rates, a re-
duction of service charges which will
result in savings Of from $4,000 to
$4,000 a year to patrons is to be
made by the company. The new
schedules have been approved by the
commission in order that the gas
consumers of Indianapolis may have
benefit therefrom as soon as possible.
The annual report of the company
Is to be submitted to the commission
within a few days. This report will
contain detailed statement of the
financial condition of the company,
and the commission will cause to be
made detailed study of this report
and of the relation Of the new rates
thereto with view Of determining
whether any further proceedings in
connection with rates of the COM
pany should be undertaken"
The schedule ordered follows:
First 10000 cubic feet, 95 cents per
1000.
Next 10000 cubic feet, 80 cents per
1000.
Next 100000 cubic feet, IS cents
per 1000.
Next 100000 cubic feet. so cents
per 1000.
Next 100000 cubic feet, rs cents
per 1000.
Next 1000 cubic feet, IS cents per
I 900