New Britain herald., 1930-12-05
UTILITY MADE RATES HJIJ, IN SINTl.

Hl IL IN STATE
 We have our own opinion Of a flat electric rate based on how many square feet may exist in the livable quarters Of home; but that isn't what we intend 10 discuss at the present moment.
 What IS on our mind is the attack against the flat rate by the Citizens Property Owners association and the allegation tha, this rate is due according to published reports-to a monopoly exercised over the Public Utilities Commission.
 We wish the C. r, Q. all the luck in the world respecting this cam Daign. The flat rate based on square feet of rooms lighted is unpopular and we believe most consumers re- gard it as unreasonable.
 But that has nothing 10 do with the way this business came about.
 Wha. the C. ?. .. and any other interested electricity nscrs in the city need 10 know as thjs anti-elec- tr.c campaign starts is that the rates for electrc service in New Britain are company-made rates. They have not been approved nor disapproyed by inc Public Utilities Commission.
 Lclrues in Connecticut have the right 70 establish thclr own rates which arc subject to change by the P. |. (. only after a hearing has been had in response to a petition Of ten or more patrons, or Of 2 municiraljty
 The (. P. Q. right now could oh tain a hearing on the rates, hy fiI- ing a petition signed by ten or more electric patrons.
 We strongly advise against precj- pi'a,c acton, however. The utility interests earn enough money 10 hire excellent lawyers
 Obviously, the Legislature is 10 blame for the state Of the law in Connecticut This law. giving 10 utilities the right to raise their rates and only giving the P. T.. C. a say after petition and q hearing. and no' before. leaves the Commission help less to do anything if no body oi consumers bestir themselves. or nc municipality shows sufficient inter, est to fight the utilities hefore the Commission.
 The last raisc in the telephone rates comes 10 mind. The raise ven into effect q year or so ago. anC then the telephone company sa tight, ready with lawyers and figure! f somebody cared 10 start a hearins before the P. T.. r. That was th' moment for public spirit and a llt lie municipal money 10 do is bit but nobody stirred and the rate continue in force.
 How differently the thing is don'  in New York state can be judged h' this weeks news emanating iron the Public Service Commission there The New York Central railroad post cd all increase in rates or the Hu1 son, Harlem and Putnam divisions said rates being an increase or i per cent in commutation tickets ant an average increase of 25 per cen in special round trip rates for non rush hours The new tariffs were fl have become effective on January
 In Connecticut that would hay ended it except if enough Of the i'll terested public had demanded hearing. In New York, however, tn Public Service Commission, Of il own volition. set aside the increase rates and announced it at ono would begin an investigation an analysis Of the proposed ne' schedules, and would open publi hearings,
 When the Connecticut Lcgisiatur gave birth to the P. L. C. rallroa and utility lobbying was done ava with. but J. Henry Roraback, Wh had been a New Haven lobbyist fo years, and his colleagues had enoug skill to make the r. |. C. Of t1 state something of less power an initiative than should have bee the case.
 Not only has the r. L. (. n initiative to act as does the Ne York Commission. but it has T jurisdiction over capital issu , which means the utilities can put Il all manner of fanciful capitalizat'o and be not called to tn" carpet.
 state utilities comlnjSs on. 10 a real body, must be modelled aft'