Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-16
HIGHER GAS BILLS
WITH LOW" RATES
MAY BRING PROBE
Peoples Counsel Stirred by
Complaints of Increases
Despite New Schedule.
VARIED BILLING PERIOD
BEARS PART OF BLAME
Vehement Objections Raised by
Equipment Purchasers as Up
keep Exceeds Estimates.

Richmond B. Keech, peoples counsel
before the Public Utilities Commission
announced today that he planned to re-
quest the commission to direct its en-
gineering staff to make an investiga-
ton to determine the cause of COM
plants over mounting gas bills, which
he said are coming into his Office in
ever-increasing numbers.
Gas consumers are writing to me
complaining that despite the lower
rates, which went into effect last Oc-
tober. their bills are going up" said
Mr.. Keech. Others call me on the
telephone to protest. / am told that
gas bills are a favor1te topic of discus
sion at bridge parties.
The consumers who have protested
to me insist that they are using no
more gas than they did before the
rates were reduced. Yet, they say the
bills are higher
Typical Letter Cited.
I'm view of this situation, l think it
advisable and necessary that an in
vestigation be made to ascertain the
cause of these complaints. And in this
connection intend to ask the Public
Utilities Commission to have its en-
gineering department make study to
see if it can throw some light on con-
ditionS"
Mr.. Keech cited as typical example
of the complaints, copy OF letter
written to the gas companies by Percy
H. Marshall, prominent Washington
lawyer, received at his Office.
Mr.. MarshallS letter contained a
vigorous protest over the amount Of his
gas bill for the period between Decem-
Der %, 1880, and January 26, 1881, for
service at his home, at 1901 Thirty
sixth street. He pointed out that there
are four members in his family and Tor
years his gas bill averaged $40 month.
Many and Varied Complaints.
at is true that this amount was
somewhat increased after the new rates
were put into effect. which were expect
ed to be so beneficial to consumers :
Mr.. Marshall wrote, but my present
bill is about 100 per cent IN excess Oh
any previous charge. As there has been
no change in the consumption OF gas
which would account for any increase
whatsoever, it is manifestly impossible
for my family to have consumed gas TO
the amount making my net bill S24.l "
The complaints, Mr. Keech pointed
out. are coming from persons In all Sec
tons Of the District, many OF Wnom
are prominent in various walks OF life,
who would not take the time or trouble
to protest unless they thought there
was a sound Justification for such action
Mr.. Keech also declared that the
complaints have not come entirely from
persons who are using automatic gas
heat appliances, though they are well
represented.
The Public Utilities Commission also
has received number of protests ard
its files bulge with reports on 40 indie
pendent investigations it made into
individual complaints. These COM
plants are scattered over period dat
ing back to the effective date OF the
lower gas rates, although many Of them
were received within the last two
months.
Period Change Blamed.
It was said at the commission, how
ever. that rs per cent of the recent
complaints were due to the fact that
the gas companies changed the billing
period in January to cover a period OF
"a and IS days, whereas the bills for
December were for a period Of % days.
Thus it, was explained, the bills Tor
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