Evening star., 1932-02-26
S249,341 GAS CUT,
AFFECTING S8,674
USERS, ORDERED
Utilities Commission Action
Lightens Domestic, House.
Heating Bills March |.
COMMERCE, INDUSTRY
REDUCTIONS APRIL |
Savings Approximately $4,000
Greater Than Those Voluntarily
Offered by Companies.

New gas rates in all schedules of the
Washington and Georgetown Gas Light
Cos, providing reductions totaling
SPAS, ,341 per annum and affecting 8S,-
STA consumers, were ordered today by
the Public, Utilities Commission. They
are effective on bills rendered on or
after March / en- the domestic and
house heating schedules and April l
on the commercial and industrial
schedules.
Although these new rates offer saw
lngs of approximately $4,000 more than
the $211,OOO voluntarily offered by the
companies, the reflection on the bills
of the average domestic consumer will
represent a saving estimated at only
cents per monthly bill, or 2ls per cent.
1t is estimated the average domestic
consumer uses 3,4O0 cubic feet of gas
per month. His monthly bill, under
the old rates, averaged 1921. Under
the new schedules the monthly bill
should average $3.14 for domestic usage.
DOmeStlc use AHectc0.
The new rates of the commission af-
feet chiefly the domestic consumer.
The new domestic schedule A, deter
mined upon by the commission, will
effect saving of $134, ,484 to 83,313 con-
sumerS, as follows:
The first 1000 cubic feet at 81 per
1000; no reduction for monthly con-
sumption.
The next 1000 cubic feet will be
charged at the rate of 80 cents per
1000, a saving of $22, ,487 to 41,7e5 con-
sumers and a reduction in the average
monthly bill of these consumers Of 2.34
per cent.
All gas consumed in excess of 5000
cubic feet in any one month will be
charged at the rate of IS cents per
1000, a saving of $l07,l39 to 38,827
consumers and a reduction in the
average monthly bill of 3.85 per cent.
The existing rates for domestic serv-
ice under which old bills have been paid
are 81 for the first 1900 cubic feet
per month and 80 cents in excess OF
1900 cubic feet A separate schedule
with the rate of 50 per 100 cubic
feet OF the maximum hourly rate,
payable only during seven heating
months, October to April, inclusive,
plus consumption charge of go cents
per 1000 cubic feet.
The commission eliminated in the
house-heating scheduled B the 81
minimum bill during the five months OF
May to September inclusive.
The new commercial and industrial
rate is changed only slightly in one or
two schedules as presented by the
companies. AS announced by the COM
Yx,t1 xialI f,rrfI Iey
ing to 5,377 consumers OF $103,357, a
reduction of IT'S per cent, according to
the commissions own estimates.
Schedules and d.
The new commercial and industrial
schedules are as follows:
Schedule C, providing minimum
bill of IS cents per month. For the
first $4,000 cubic feet of gas consumed
the rate will be 80 cents per 1000
cubic feet; for the next $4,000 cubic
feet, IS cents per 1000, with 80 cents
per 1000 for all gas used in excess of
10O,0 900 cubic feet in any one month.
Schedule D. Only two brackets are
changed in the new schedule. For the
first so cubic feet used in any month
Der IOOb Oh 1dIC VI uoC
at 90 cents per 1000. The companies
had proposed e21a cents. For gas in ex-
cess Of the above to complete the total
monthly consumption or to make total
of 400 900 cubic feet in any one month
at II cents per 900. The company had
proposed 7712 cents. For gas in ex-
cess of both of the above blocks, either
to complete the total monthly consump-
ton or to make total of 100000
cubic feet in any one month, at 65 cents
per 1000. For the next 100000 cubic
feet in any month at so cents per 1000
and 40 cents per 1000 for the excess
over 1000 900 cubic feet.
Minimum Monthly Bill.
The commission explained that the
minimum monthly bill per meter shall
be the above rate applied to Is cubic
feet of gas per foot of the maximum
hourly rate of use. but not less than
IS net or S5 SO gross.
The above rates are net the commits
sion explained, and are increased by
10 cents per 1000, except in the last
three blocks of schedule D for failure
to paw the bill within the 15-day prompt
payment discount period
Through the elimination of the 80
fee which the company now Is charg-
ing for terminating service when the
consumer discontinues use within the
one-year contract period, further re-
duction Of $4,000 will be made. This
was a proposal by the gas companies.