Evening star., 1932-01-25
Decrease of S271,0OO in
Revenue for 1882 Esti-
mated Under Plan.
SAVING TO DOMESTIC
CONSUMERS OUTLINED
Clayton Objects to Secret Compro-
mise" by Light Company and
Utilities Board.

A primary rate of 4 cents per kilo-
watt hour for domestic consumers ol
electricity was suggested by the Poto-
mac Electric Power Co. at the opening
of a public hearing today before the
Public Utilities Commission on Wash
ingtonIs electric rates for 1882. The
rate would be effective for the first 1OO
kilowatt hours used and thereafter
would drop TO 25 cents per kilowatt
hour for the balance.
This rate, according to Harold A
Brooks, commercial manager Of the
company, would result in a decrease IN
revenue of S27l 900 per annum, aSsum-
ing the same sale of current in 1882 as
in 1881. According to the compromise
agreement entered into by the company
and the commission, the reduction in all
schedules is designed to cut off S860,0OO
of the gross income during 1882. At
the time of the noon recess only the
domestic schedule had come up for con-
sideration.
New System Defended.
MIR. Brooks defended the departure
from the present system of charging do
mestic consumers at one rate, no mat
ter how much current is consumed, by
stating there are a large number Of
customers whose accounts are carried
at a loss, since the customer expense is
in excess of the 75-cent monthly mini
mum bill.
He said in 1881 domestic consumer
had bought 24.39 per cent of the cur
rent sold by the company on meters
and had furnished 1921 per cent of
the company's cash revenue. He said
the average domestic consumer in 1881
used 708 kilowatt hours per year, or SO
kilowatt hours per month. Thus, under
the proposed rate. the average consumer
would profit to the extent of II cents
per month in reduced rates. The pres
ent rate for domestic consumption is
40 cents per kilowatt hour.
Mr. Brooks testified that last year
215,420 bills we're rendered at the mini
mum figure of IS cents each, and aver
age of 1881 minimum bills per month,
and that there are $4,000 domestic
consumers.
He said the new rate was designed
to encourage increased use of small
labor-savlng devices by customers who
could not afford the initial investment
of the extra wiring which must be in
stalled before they can take advantage
of schedule K This schedule applies
to ranges, refrigeratorS and the like,
which are known as the heavy-duty
appliances.
Cost Is Given.
The cost of installation of the extra
meter and wiring ranges between $50
and S135 for those who wish to take
advantage of schedule K, he said. The
present rates under this schedule are
AZ cents per kilowatt hour for the first
"a hours and 81 cents thereafter.
At the opening of the hearing, Will
liam NICK. Clayton, representing the
Federation of Citizens Associations, OBJ
jected to the fact the commission had
entered into a compromise with the
company in secret, although he said
his people favored. compromise in
principle.
He made a further objection on the
ground that of the two commissioners
who were in Office at the time, one Of
them, Acting Commissioner Donald A.
Dawson. had not the right to act for
the commission, since there was moth
ing in the law giving him power to act
as a member of the Public Utilities
Commission.
Shortly after Mr.. Clayton made this
objection Maj Dawson left the hear
ing. Chairman Mason NJ. Patrick of
the commission announced Maj. Davi-
son had been called away because of
illness in his family.