Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-10-19

seIpeetee az the Fert session OF CoHeTess
Battle lines are forming for q bitter
tight over proposed regulation by the
Federal Government OF electric power
In interstate commerce.
Senator James Couzens Of Michigan
recently renominated, vigorous chair
man Of the Senate Interstate Commerce
COMMITTEES, has already prepared a bill
for such regulation. It Is merely await
ing consideration BY his committee.
The measure provides for fixing "rea-
sonable" rates for electric power which
goes into interstate commerce. It pro-
udes, too, for the valuation of the
properties producing electric power as a
basis for rate making and 1t reaches
out for the purpose of placing under
the jurisdiction of the Federal Power
Commission holding or parent COM
panies and members Of afnliated
Electric power, in one shape or an
other, enters into the daily life Of every
citizen and resident of the United
States The price which is paid for
power, whether it be used for the oper-
alton Of street railways, for lighting, for
the operation Of manufacturing plants
or for any Of a score Of other purposes
directly affects the pockethooks OF the
people.
Legislative Battle Impends.
The magnitude Of the power industry
and of the interests which It affects
foreshadows . desperate legislative bat
tie over this latest proposal to place the
price-fixtng Of electric power and In
control OF the financing-in Q large
ineasure-of the concerns which pro-
duce power.
The United States Geological Survey
has reported that s7,352, 3e5, 900 kilo.
watt hours-tiae measure of electricity
were genersted in the United states in
Federal Trade Commission, now en-
gagged in an inquiry into the so-called
power trust, said that the total interstate
movement Of electric energy, including
also international movement, for Con-
tinental United States, excluding
Alaska, IN the same year was approxi-
nlately 1880, 100000 kilowatt hours.
This Is about IS per cent of the total
amount Of electricity generated In the
The figures given for electric power
and for the Interstate transmission of
this power given by the National EIec.
trio Light Association differ somewhat
from those put forward BY the Govern
nlent agencies mentioned. The esspct-
alton holds that during 1929 the total
tribution % colisufaers a. iieilt and
power was oil .066 :OOO. 900 kiiowaSt hours
exclusive Of energy imported from
Canada. OF this amount $4,000, O00, 900
kilowatE hours. or esq per cent. was
generated and consumes within the
same State. The remaining lis per
cent was transferred across state lines,
according 70 the association.
p' y Vsspus Arssnenneu@
Whichever set Of figures a accented.
two things are clear: FIRST. that 4 TIRE.
fIaen6olIs ar.oa,y,k 81 electric e,,evgv q
cieveIoned IN tllis country ana secc,,d
that I very large pron0rtion Of this
Ccnmercs st ali.
Nevertheless, the amount Of electric
isres. y csrtsi sutseisnts to warrant rsrs
Federal FeRtiiation II such regulation Is
really necessary. The friends Of the
Cpuzens bill insist that regulation In
terests Of the consumers. Furthermore,
creasing aitiount az electrieitv which
goes into interstate commerce.
Under the present law there r. no
provision for the regulation Of electric
power in interstate commerce. exceut
that the Federal water power act gives
th5 Federal Power Commission autiaori-
" 70 regulate where power Is produced
az Federal water power sites. The reg1i.
lation Of rates for electricity paid for
BY the consumers rests almost entirely
IN the hands Of the Public Utility COM
missions Of the States today.
IN the coming struggle over the
CouSens proposal 70 place the Federal
NTf5R#FffTf1G41t lar
OF electric power IN interstate COM
merce several groups ere involved:
First, there are the people, the con-
eumers Of electricity. as a whole mar
tieulete, but represented In the fight
bg their Senators and Representatives
IA TIT House.
Second, there are the producers of
electric power-whether from water
power or from coal.
Third. there are the state Public
Utility Commissions,
Fourth, there is o Federal Power
Commission upon whose shoulders
would tau the burden Of such regliia.
ton.
ucels Oppose More burdens.
The people are interested In getting
eiectricity At the lowest rates they can,
along with emcient service.
Ine producers Of electricity are OPP
posed 70 being hurdened with any more
regnlauon than Is essential.
The state Public Utiiity Commissions
apprehension iIpon the nronoss1 that
the Federal Government begin the reg
ulation OF electric power IN interstate
commerce. They see 1t as an entering
wedge which IN the end may relieve
the State Commissions az reel,iatorv
powers which thew now exercise They
have In mind what aannene6 Tyi,e,, tI,ss
InterstaEe Commerce ConanstsSio,, ,,ss
set up TO deal with the fnteretate sbir.
S@ANR