Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-06
GAS COMPANY MAY
FILE ADJUSTMENT
PROPOSAL MONDAY
Commission Expected to Be
Given Arguments in High
Pressure Case.
LOWER ELECTRIC RATE
HEARINGS SEEN LIKELY
If Authorities Decide Cuts Are
Timely, Sittings Will Be
Held Soon.

When the Public Utilities Commits
sion meets Monday, the Washington
Gas Light Co. is expected to file pro-
posed plan for an adjustment Of over
charges to consumers in relation to
the excess pressure about which scores
of complaints were made last Winter,
This gave rise to speculation today
that the commission intends to take
early steps to order hearing en- the
matter. There wss nothing to indicate
in fdvanc2 of Mondays session, how
ever. that any immediate action is
contemplated.
Electric Rate Hearing.
At the same time, it became known
today there is probability of the COM
mission holding a hearing in the near
future on lower rates in electricity.
While the commission has such hear
ing in mind the division in its per-
sonnet concerning the feasibility of re-
ducing rates now or at the end OF the
present year makes it entirely uncertain
when the electric rate hearing would
be held.
If the commission should decide that
NV is the time to bring about reduc-
ton in electric rates, then the hearings
probably would be held in the near
future Otherwise it is doubtful if such
a step would be contemplated before
next December.
While action resulting from Mondays
session of the utilities commission re-
garding high pressure is entirely prob
1ematical. a great deal depends on the
nature of the plan which George A. G
Wcod, president of the Washington Gas
Light Co., intends to file.
Details Not Known.
None of its details has been divulged
The matter has been under discussion
b. the commission for a long time. 1t
is understood the proposal which tbs
gas company intends to make is the
result of conferences between officials
of the company and the Public Utilities
Comm. ssion.
Should a hearing on high-pressure
methods used by the gas company to
boost the bills of consumers be ordered
such a hearing, 1t was learned today
would consider rates that would serve
automatically to penalize the company
if it maintains high pressure as 1t did
last wear The commission is under
stood to have in mind some such
adjustment with relation to excess OF
pressure that would serve automatically
to reduce rates.
The proposal to adjust rates takes IN
mind the maximum of 8 inches allowed
by the commission. There is posi-
bility, it is understood, of this maximum
being reduced to 6 inches. Since the
exposure of high-pressure methods dur
ing the past year the company's pressure
does not now exceed inches above the
maximum s inches allowed by the ccm-
mission, according to information OBJ
tainable.
Prepare for winter.
The proposal to adjust gas rates au-
tomatically If the company maintains
a higher pressure than is allowed would
be unique in the United States, II
was believed. No other city, certainly
none comparable in size to Washing ton
has such a rule in force.
Due to the numerous complaints and
inquiries made by the commission, the
gas company has been at work this
Spring making extensive improvements
which are expected to prevent exces-
sive pressurcs next Fall or Winter. This
constitutes the installation of addition
al distributive mains.