Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-26
QUIZ TO GET DATA
ON D. c. UTILITIES
North American Probe Re-
port to Include Car Line and
Electric Rate Decree.

An exhaustive report on the operating
conditions of the Washington Railway
g. Electric Co. and it's profitable sub
sidary, the Potomac Electric Power Co,
will be included in the record of the
Federal Trade Commissions investiga-
ton Of the North American Co.
The operating study Is to be made by
Judson c. Dickerman, one of the COM
missions engineer-examiners. who al
ready has figured prominently in the
current hearings before the commission,
at which the North Americans extern
sive public utility holdings are being
unfol6ed in minute detail.
1t was Mr.. Dickerman who disclosed
that the North American owns ssh per
cent OF the voting stock of the Wash
lngton Railway g. Electric Co. and az
per cent of the stock outstanding of
the Capital Traction Co.
Study to Begin Soon.
Mr.. Dickerman said today he would
begin his study at the earliest oppor-
tunity although he does not expect to
complete it until Fall 1t will be avail
able, however, he declared. in time for
incorporation in the commissions final
report to Congress on the result of its
inquiry into the holdings of the North
American Co.
The operating report, Mr.. Dicker-
man declared. will show whether the
Washington utilities are efficiently OPP
Grated and managed and the type OF
service provided in comparison with
similar privately owned companies in
other cities. Special attention, he in
dictated, will be given the consent de-
cree between the Public Utilities Com
mission and the Potomac Electric
Power Co, by which electric rates in
Washington are fixed.
In connection with the study of the
transportation companies, Mr.. DECKER
man will review, rather briefly, the ne
gotiationS for a merger, initiated by the
North American, and point out the
operating economies that would accrue
from unified operation. Failure of
Congress to ratify the unification agree
ment entered into by the transit COM
panies killed the first serious attempt
to consolidate these utilities, but there
are indications that merger negotiations
may be renewed In the near future.
Backs Light Consent Decree.
Mr.. Dickerman said he would devote
considerable portion of his report to
the electric light consent decree, which
the utilities commission is now attempt
ing to revise in a further effort to
lower rates Personally, he believes
nothing should be done to destroy this
contract, because it has worked to the
distinct advantage of both consumer
and company.
The success Of the consent decree,
which has enabled the Potomac Electric
Power Co. annually to reduce rates and
at the same time earn return running
as high as 10 and II per cent, he said,
should be cited as an example to other
power companies that are seeking to
raise rates. AS it has worked out in
Washington, he declared, the consent
decree has put premium on efficiency,
giving the company an incentive for
economical and efficient operation.
Mr.. Dickerman said that for a num-
Der of years he has observed the rates
in Washington go down under the oper-
alton Of the consent decree, and con-
sidered this situation nothing short of
remarkable in view of the added bur-
den OF operating costs borne by the
Potomac Electric Power Co. because Of
underground construction. Aside from
New York, he declared. he did not
know of any city in the country having
as much underground electric power
line construction as Washington, which
Is an important factor in operating
costs.