Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-22
USAGE OF ELECTRIC
POWER INCREASING
Gain in Consumption of Cur
rent Indicates Upturn
in Industry.
BY J. c. ROYLE.

The curve of electric power con-
sumption has again turned upward.
This reflects accurately the improve
ment in industrial operations since the
use Of current for domestic use has
been subjected to only seasonal varia-
tions The question of the eXpendi-
lures by the current producers for eX-
pansions and batterments in 1881, how
ever, continues to be held down by the
fear of legislation unfavorable to the
industry.
For the first three weeks of the
new year the public utility financing
has been fairly heavy, the total offered
the public in securities exceeding $780,
100000. The major part of this, how
ever, is not for new plants and add
tional machinery. 1t is for refinancing
purposes. The corporations are taking
advantage of the present low money
rates to reduce interest charges on out
standing funded Indebtedness. This
does not mean that the programs of
the big utility company have been
abandoned. The North American Co,
for example, expects through its sub
salaries to expend some $51 10000 in
1881 for plant additions and better
ments.
Long Range Requirements.
The companies engaged in producing
and transmitting electric power realize
that they must give service which is
thoroughly adequate and they will mot
cease to spend money for this purpose,
but the long-range requirements of
their territories are being given less
attention than would be the case were
power" not a political as well as an
industrial slogan.
The head of one great utility COM
pany said frankly that the business of
the Nation depends on the electric
light and power industry to provide en-
ployment for thousands of men, but
that whether the industry can do so
depends entirely on the investors. If
the latter are inundated, he adds, the
construction projects cannot be carried
out
Despite the depression, the owner
producers look forward with assurance
to satisfactory year Discussion still
is rife over whether the industry fur
nished more or less power in 1880 than
in 1929, but it seems sure that the gross
revenues for 1880 exceeded $4,000, 000,-
600. Leaders in utility circles feel that
this sum will be thoroughly outdistanced
in the next IL months. There are now
some 25,000,000 customers in the United
States for electric current. This num-
Der increased IA per cent in 1880 and is
likely to make a similar advance this
year.
H. C.. HopSon, vice president of the
Associated Gas & Electric Co, declares
that while 1881 may be another hard
boiled" year, 1t will reward those who
conduct their businesses with courage,
vision and aggressiveness. He points
out that there is expansion due in the
fields of railroad electrification, the
lighting of highways and airways and in
domestic use. There still remain more
than 10,000,000 homes without wiring
and farm identification is on the in
crease.
Steam Generating Plants.
A brighter viewpoint is seen by many
utility executives IN the emphasis which
has come to be placed on the steam gen.
Grating plants. 1t is from this source
that the larger part of the current is
derived, they say, and such plants prob
ably will not be classified with the
hydro-electric plants, drawing power
from natural resources, in any attack
on the industry.
According to the Geological Survey
the total combined capacity of steam
and hydro-electric plants in 1881 will
be 33,403,281 kilowatts, of which "a
266,3l2 will be made possible by steam
plants. Construction of steam plants
this year is expected to involve expendi-
ture of over 100000 900.
Copyright, 1879