Evening star., 1928-08-12
RADIO BENEFITS
POWER COMPANIES
Consumption of "juice" Con-
SiderabIy Increased by
"Piug-ln" Sets.

Unlike the treatment of his automo-
| bile or his house, Mr.. Average Citizen
| evidently gives little attention to the
cost of operating his radio. But the
power companies do.
Approximately one dollar per month
is the electric bill for operating the
average "plug-ir1" or "A, C." loud speak
or set. Radio experts now estimate
that. reduced to hours. the electric
overhead is about one cent per hour
for a modern siX-tube receiver. and
that the average set Is in Use four
hours each day,
Power Companies Gain.
The electric radio receiver is rapidly
taking its place as household current
consuming device along with the elec-
trio cooking range, washing machine
and vacuum cleaner. Although the ac-
tual amount of current used per hour
for one unit is not large, the great
popularity of radio and the widespread
possession of receivers, together with
other factors of electrical consumption
are increasing the monetary returns
of electrical plants by millions. The
benefits now may be all the manufac-
turers', but the consumer eventually will
see advantages, because with the in
Of profits will be greater to the com
panies and the users may expect re-
duCed rates
The outstanding factor in radio DOW
or consumption is the transition stage
that receivers now are undergoing The
old battery and eliminator sets grad
ually are being replaced by the sets
for direct operation from power lines
The latter require a minimum of care
and have no battery problems that arc
the drawbacks Of the indirect power
sets,
Sale of entirely electrified sets began
in December. 1927 II is estimated that
since then IN the neighborhood of 300
600 have been sold and now are being
operated. Other estimates arc that 90
TO 95 per cent of the present sales of
power sets are those of the plug lin"
type and that these sets gradually will
replace the indirect power operated
types,
Uses Waste Power.
The ways In which the power COM
panies benefit from "plug-in" sets are
numerous, OF course. the actual con-
sumption of power through set opera
tion predominates in the eyes of the
power operator. but the high average
WI AttuIS VI optIHllpLl uutlIlE the udN~
light period. when normal electrical
consumption is low. is another item It
utilizes portion of the overflow or
waste current that must be generated
and thereby means two-way saving
Then during night radio reception.
listeners are inclined to sit up longer
using additional current for illuminat-
ing The inceSsant campaign for bet
ter reception also is tending toward
steady increase in the number of vac
uum tubes used and in consequence in
the current consumed per set.
Percise figures on the increased re-
turns to power companies resulting
from direct-power operation are not
available The New York Edison Co.
estimates that it receives an annual in
come from radio alone amounting TO
we'll over S1,000,000.
Power companies even now are do
ing more than merely viewing with en-
thusiasm the increased returns result
ing from radio. Many of the COM
panies merchandise electrified sets
through their central stations.
fCopyright. 1928. by the Consolidated Press.)