Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-01
REDUCED ELECTRIC
RATES EFFECTIVE
BEGINNING TODAY
Saving of $830,0OO to Con-
sumers in 1891 Expected
From New Scale.
COMMISSION TO SEEK
INCREASED AUTHORITY
Finds Present Consent Decree Per-
mits Company to Earn Ex-
ceSsive Amount.

Washington's new reduced electric
rates went into effect at midnight last
night and will be applied on all meter
readings taken, beginning today. The
rates, ordered by the Public Utilities
Commission late yesterday afternoon,
offer to householders a reduction for
their light bills of one-half of a cent
per kilowatt hour, the rate having been
reduced from At to 4.2 cents.
For the current used by electric ice
boxes, ranges, radios, vacuum cleaners,
coasters and the like, the rate for the
first 25 hours drops from AT to 40 cents
and from all in excess from 2.5 to 81
cents per kilowatt hour. Similar reduc-
tons are made on all the commercial
schedules, the details of which are set
forth herewith.
At the same time the commission an
nounced its intention of seeking a ref
ormation of the consent decree under
which the rates have been adjusted for
the past six years. The commission
found that the way the decree worked
out was to give the company last year
rate Of return on its valuation of
more than 10 per cent, which was
AOAAAO CASCooANSs
Will Consult Company.
The first steps to be taken will be to
hold conferences with power company
officials in order to come to an agree
ment as to what change should be made
in the decree.
One suggestion is already before the
commission. 1t comes from william
NICK. Clayton, representing the Fed
Grafton of Citizens Associations, and
seeks to apply in annual rate reduc-
tionS three quarters instead of one-half
OF the company'S excess earnings above
712 per cent of its valuation. A second
suggestion also made by Mr.. Clayton
is to adjust the rates every six months,
instead OF every year, so that the COM
pany would not have so much time to
amass large SURPRISES.
If the conferences fail to yield an
agreement as to the terms of modify
ing the decree, then the commission
will proceed to revalue the properties
Of the company and set rates based
upon the valuations.
Their action in adopting substantially
the rates offered by the Potomac
Electric Co. was explained in the state
ment as based on a desire to prevent
any loss to the consumers through a
delay in ordering new rates. There
were some changes made in the COM
mercial schedules, but these were of
minor character. They did not affect
the ultimate saving calculated which
remains at $830,000 for 1881.
Keech Is Disappointed.
Although he succeeded in getting the
commission to join him in an attack
on the consent decree, Peoples Counsel
Richmond B. Keech expressed dis
appointment that the commission had
not ordered greater reductions than
those offered by the compay. After a
cursory examination of the commissions
statement and the new schedule, Mr.
Keech said:
1.-THE effect of the whole order seems
to be that the commission has de-
termined that with the entry of the
decree 1t was to all intents and pur-
poses Invested of power over the Po-
tomac Electric Power Co., except for
the purpose of computing what the
amount of revenue in excess of 7I2 per
cent of its rate base was for a given
year.
II entertain the opinion expressed
to the commission at the hearing, and
in fact, practically since entry into
Office, that it is clearly within the
province of and likewise the duty of
the commission to see that reasonable
and just rates are charged and that the
decree in nowise does nor was in in
tended to abridge this obligation"
Approved Rates.
The rates approved by the commits
sion are as follows:
Schedule A, AZ cents per kilowatt
hour, straight. This applies for electric
service for any residential purpose.
Schedule K, for separately metered
residential purposes other than light
ing, AZ cents per kilowatt hour for the
first 10 hours and 81 cents per kilo-
watt hour for all over the first 10.
Schedule B, for separately metered
electric service used for any CONNER
cial purpose other than lighting, AZ
cents per kilowatt hour for the first 80
hours use monthly of the connected
load, and 4 cents per kiloWatt hour for
all in excess.
Schedule C, for public lighting and
motors in apartment houses and Office
buildings:
First 400 kilowatt hours, AZ cents per
kilowatt hour.
Next $50 kilowatt hours, 81 cents per
kilowatt hour
Next 1000 kilowatt hours, 30 cents
per kilowatt hour.
Next 1900 kilowatt hours, 81 cents
per kilowatt hour.
All in excess of 9,450 kilowatt hours,
2 cents per kilowatt hour.
Schedule d, for general lighting,
power and industrial purposes, includ
ing battery charging:
First $50 kilowatt hours, AZ cents
per kilowatt hour.
Next 1900 kilowatt hours. 39 cents
per kilowatt hour.
Next 1900 kilowatt hours, 3.3 cents
per kiloWatt hour.
Next 5000 kilowatt hours, "a cents
per kilowatt hour.
All in excess of 9450 kilowatt hours,
2 cents per kilowatt hour.
Additional Rates.
Schedule E, for electric service for
any commercial purpose where the de-
mand contracted for is not less than
20 kilowatts Fixed charge per month,
50 per kilowatt for the first 100 kilo-
watts of consumers demand and $1.50
per kilowatt for all over 100.
In this schedule the energy charge Is
1.9 cents per kilowatt hour for the first
$3.50 kilowatt hours consumption, IL
cents per kilowatt hour for the next
rs, 900 kilowatt hours, and 0.8 cents
per kilowatt hour for all in excess OF
38, $50 kilowatt hours.
Schedule L, high-tension electric
service for any commercial purpose
where the demand contracted for Is not
less than 20 kilowatts. There is fixed
charge of $160 per kilowatt for the
first 100 kilowatts of the consumers de-
mand, $1.30 for the next 900 kilowatts
and Sl.l0 for all in excess of 1000 kilo-
watts.