Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-20
Engineering Study of Situa-
ton Planned in Addition to
Commissions Action.
WHOLE CAUSE OF HIGHER
RATES SOUGHT IN PROBE
More Than Two Years Would Be
Required at Present Speed to
Make Adjustments.

Complaints over high gas bills con-
tinued to flow in increasing numbers
today into the Office of the Public IT'LL
tiles Commission and Peoples Counsel
Richmond B. Keech as both of these
agencies proceeded with an intensive in
vestigation to determine the cause.
The commission announced that in
addition to the independent inquiry it
has been making, it will comply with
the recent request of Mr.. Keech for a
thorough engineering study of gas con-
sumption in an effort to find COM
plete" answer to the reason for the
protests over mounting gas bills.
Unquestionably, it was said at the
commission, the increased gas pressures
have caused greater consumption, and
the recent action ordering the gas COM
panies to reduce pressures Immediately
to an 8-inch maximum and adjust gas
appliances for this pressure will, in all
likelihood, bring Consumption back to
normal. The commission also is max
ing a study of the effect on consumption
of the mixture of natural and ARTIFICIAL
gas, which is being distributed through
a portion of the gas system.
Wants Engineering Study.
Mr.. Keech, however, is not satisfied
that the pressures alone are responsible
for the higher bills, especially those
which were reported to him as being
100 per cent IN excess of the average.
He thinks an engineering study, which
his Office is not equipped to make, will
throw further light upon the conditions.
This study the commission will make
at his request. 1t will be under the
direction of Bert H. Peck, the commits
sions chief engineer, who disclosed the
existence of the abnormal gas pres
sures, which in some instances were
more than double those allowed under
the commissions former 6-inch maxi
mum pressure regulation.
Aside from the engineering study, the
commission also asked Mr.. keech 1or
copies of the complaints he has re.
celved from gas consumers so that II
can inquire into them.
Mr.. Keech also indicated that ne
proposed to find out why, IN the face OF
the high pressures which the gas COM
pany announced in newspaper advertise
ments were in effect prior to the re-
auction IN raCeS IdSC OCtoOcA, duJuoO-
ments were not made in gas appliances
to meet the increased pressures. The
gas company, he said, admitted in the
statement that the increased pressures
may make gas appliances "inefhctent,
and yet no warning was given the pub
lie as to the proper regulation OF the
fame, or were elaborate plans made to
check up on the appliances until the
complaints became numerous.
5000 Adjustments Monthly.
Gas company officials have stated,
Mr.. Keech pointed out, that adjust
ments on appliances are now being
made at the rate of 5000 a month.
There are 10000 gas consumers, he
said. which means, at this rate, that it
will take more than two years to check
and readjust the appliances needing
readjustment.
George A. G. Wood, president of the
Washington Gas Light Co., recently
told the commission that instruction is
being given a group of employees in adj
justing gas appliances, and that as
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