Evening star., 1931-06-24
GAS RATE UNF AIR
TO LARGE USERS,
KEECH DECLARES
House-Heating Tariff Lower
Than Others, Peoples
Counsel Finds.
OBJECTS TO SCHEDULE
ORDERED BY COMPANY
Discrimination Of 20 Per Cent
Against Business Houses
Is Charged.

Peoples Counsel Richmond B. Keech
today wrote the Washington Gas Light
Co., stating the company'S proposed
schedule D, on which q public hear
ing will be held in the next few weeks,
Is inadequate to remedy the alleged
discrimination now existing between
charges for houSe-heating service and
those for wholesale use of gas in bak-
cries, restaurants and other similar es-
tablishments.
The discrimination, Mr.. Keech
charged. is about 20 per cent In favor
Of the houSe-heattng consumers in cer-
tain consumption ranges.
This office recently has had q num-
Der Of inquiries by caterers, bakers and
restaurant operators" Mr.. Keech wrote,
"aS to why they are required to pay the
amount fixed in schedule C for gas, the
amount being far in excess Of that charged
for house heating, and notwithstan nding
the fact the consumption Of 3 num-
Der OF these persons or companies ex-
ceeds that consumed by q person using
gas for heating purposes.
S1.T4 Cents Per 1000.
"I have, likewise. received a communi-
cation from a business concern here
stating that for the consumption Of ap-
proximately 10000 cubic feet a month.
they are being charged approximately
9l.74 cents per 1000 cubic feet. Inas-
much as the approximate cost per / 900
cubic feet Of gas to a person who heats
his house by gas is about rs cents, and
In many instances not nearly 10000
cubic feet per month is consumed. this
merchants bill is approximately 20 per
cent higher than that Of q person using
gas for heating purposes.
HTfY1 fha fano IF fbf< vyofa1G
there Is something to the contention of
these users OF gas that there Is diScrim-
tnation in favor Of persons using gas for
heating purposes. assuming that the
quantity used by them is not in excess
Of that used by merchants for cooking
purposes.
gated this matter through your engi-
nering, accounting and rate-mAking
staffS and ascertained that a justifica-
ton exists for this apparent discrimina-
tion. If such be the case, would ap-
preciate it if you would acquaint me
with facts showing this justification. If
you have not caused an investigation TO
be made in connection with this mat
ter, would appreciate it If you would
have this done promptly and advise me
as to the result.
Il have examined the proposed sched-
uIe ~ submitted Dy you. Dut nnd many
caterers bakers and other persons utiliz-
ing gas commercially will not be af-
fected by the proposed schedule; hence,
the addition Of this schedule to the ex-
tsting tarin viii not relieve the situa-
tion presented BY the early part Of this
letter."
Required TO Use 1O0,ooe.
The schedule D, as submitted by the
gas company, starts with q require
nent that the customer using the
schedule guarantee to use 100000 cubic
feet Of gas per month Mr.. Keech
said this automatically would exclude
from its benefits many of the bakers.
reStauranteurs. and others who had
sought relief from the inequalities of
schedule c, under which they now
operate.
The price proposed under schedule D
| is Cusing net figures throughout) 90
cents per 1000 cubic feet for the first
300,0 900 cubic feet, 80 cents for the next
800, 900, and rs cents for all in excess
Of 100000 per month. In addition to
the net charge there Is the usual extra
charge for slow payment. There also
are discounts for load factors, ranging
from one to 20 per cent or over, the
highest load factor being . reduction
Of II per cent In credit On the bills for
the succeeding year.