New Britain herald., 1930-10-04
NJ HOPE FOR CUTS
 IN POWER CHARGES
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(Continued From First Page) in New Britain, quite generally, the impression that electric service rates in Hartford are very much lower than those which prevail in New Britain. This feeling together wiTh the recently announced reduction n Hartford widely reported as amounting to 25 per cent-may, per- haps, supply the answer to the ques- ton.
 Average Bill Here Lower
 "As to the first point, it may be said that the rates in effect in the two cities are very similar in struc- ture and character but that the de- tails of their application are suffi- ciently different as to make their direct comparison impractical. In any event, a comparison of the re- suits of their actual application to the customers presents the clearest possible picture. In the last calendar year available, namely, 1929, the average monthly bill in Hartford is reported to have been S2.64. while that in New Britain was s2.57. or seven cents less. It is evident there fore that the New Britain bill oc- cupied a rather less position in the household budget than was the case in Hartford.
 'Tt is true that the average Hart ford customer used somewhat more service, namely, about eight kilo- watt hours per month. It is equally true that, so far as we have been able to determine, the New Brfain customers used the service as freely as they desired, and. since New Britain Is the home of one Of the country's largest electric appliance manufacturers, it may be presumed that its inhabitants are thoroughly alive to the advantages of electric service.
 Bills Here Higher If-
 "If. on the contrary, the New Britain customers had desired to use the service to as great an extent as was the case in Hartford, We woul1 have welcomed the opportunity to supply such additional service at an average rate of three cents per kilo- watt hour. If it had been supplied at that price, then the average bill in New Britain would have been s2.S2 per month. or IS cents per month-equivalen to 6.S per cent higher than would have been paid in Hartford. In our judgment this differential of 6.S per cent is in- herent and can easily be justified The comparison which has been made is, however, incomplete with out a comparison of the rates at which the customers can purchase additional service if, perchance there be any that so desire. The rates in both cities are very favor able in this respect and in practical ly the same degree. -...
 "As regards the widely reported rate reduction in Hartford of 25 per cent. the facts are as follows: There are in effect in Hartford three resi- dence rates, one of which only was reduced, namely, that on which most of the customers take service The change that was made was in the energy charge, or meter rate. only--the area charge remaining unchanged. and constituted the in- troduction of q Sc per kilowatt hour energy step for all consumption in excess of two kilowatt hours per month per 100 square feet of area; whereas under the superseded rate all the consumption was billed at 4c per kilowatt hour. I myself reside in Hartford and take service under this rate. As applied to my bills for the last twelve months. the reduc- tion would have amounted to S5.14 or 5.S per cent. It may be presumed than this and some would be more, but the illustration serves to point out the fallacy of the report that it amounted 10 25 per cent
 Tt isl possible that the feeling exists in New Britain that rates have not been reduced for many years. The fact is that the average rate per kilowatt hour has been progressive ly downward from year to year; for 1918 the average was 10.1c per kill owatt hour; for the year 1929, 7.2c; and for the year 1880 we estimate that it will be 6.Sc. Hence it will be seen that the average rate has fall en in the twelveyear period S2 per cent