Evening star., 1933-09-24
Subject Revived as GotWals
Makes Public Final Rau
Report.
SAVING OF $4,000,000
TOCITY AS WHOLE SEEN
Consulting Engineer, However
Thinks Government Limited
Utility" Would Be Better.

Study of the suggested development
of a municipality owned power plant, to
serve the Federal and District Gov
ernment establishments, which would
effect an annual saving estimated at
Sl.00O,OOO. will be resumed by inter-
ested members of the House shortly
after Congress meets in January, 1t was
learned last night
The subject was revived yesterday
when Engineer Commissioner GotWalS
made public the final report on tech
nical survey of the question made by
Otto M. Rau. consulting engineer, en-
gagged more than year ago by the
Commissioners, at the instance OF Con-
gress, to study the question.
The question was considered by men,
bers of the District subcommittee OF
the House Appropriations Committee
at the last session of Congress. when
a summary of principal findings by
the consultant were revealed. The re-
port itself, however, was not made pub
lie at the time.
AS soon as the subcommittee is re-
organized next January. copies OF the
report will be distributed to members
for study and action, it was stated last
night in congressional circles.
Congress to Decide.
Mai. Gotwals indicated the District
government would take no action at
this time and would leave decision in
the matter in the hands of Congress,
which initiated the survey.
Rau estimated saving of S4,000,00
annually in the cost of electric power
would result from development of a
municipal power plant designed to serve
the entire needs of the District con-
sumers, both public and private.
He reached the conclusion, however,
that it would be more logical for the
Government to undertake establishment
of limited utility" designed to serve
the concentrated area of Government
activities. to supply both private and
Government service in such confined
area.
The report is an enlargement of an
earlier survey, in 1880, made by Earl
Barber, a former member of the Pub
lie Service Commission of Massachu-
sets.
From a comprehensive survey of the
operation and maintenance of the pres
ent power services here Rau estimated
that a municipal plant to serve the
Government establishments and pri-
vate consumers in the same area could
be established for $40 100000.
He estimated the cost of develop
ment of municipal plant to serve the
entire needs of the District at s35,500,-
900, which on a per cent basis would
be amortized in Is years.
Study Limited to Steam.
The study contemplates the develop
ment of a steam power plant and does
not consider the question of establish
ment of hydro-electric plant such as
has been suggested in the past for a
site on the Potomac River at Great
Falls.
In a summary of his findings Rau
points out that the power needs of the
District are approximately 462,000.000
kilowatt hours at load factor of so
per cent, requiring plant capacity in
Guiding reasonable increase for future
growth of 125 900 kilowatt hours, using
the United States Navy Yard and
standby capacity.
He brought out that the amount
paid by the Government, including the
cost of power generated at its own
plants. is approximately S2,517,163, and
that the amount paid annually by pri-
vate consumers is $8,259,756 making
q total of $10,778,919.
He found that the average amount
paid per kilowatt hour was 2.71 cents,
of which the Government paid the local
utility an average OF 2.65 cents per
kilowatt hour and that the comparative
cost of power generated at the Gov
ernment plants, including fixed charges,
was 1.16 cents per kilowatt hour.
Huge Saving to City.
Rau calculated that a municipality
owned utility could supply the power
needs of the District generally. if sup
piled at cost, at an average of not to
exceed IA cents per kilowatt hour,
from which he estimated an annual
saving of $4000,000 if the service were
given to the city as whole
If such a plan included Govern
ment owned street-lighting system
served by electricity at existing rates
applicable to such service, saving
of 100000 annually would result, the
consultant found.
Describing development of a munich
pal power plant to serve only the Gov
ernment establishments and consumers
in such an area as the most logical for
the Government to undertake, Rau
said the outstanding features of such a
limited utility would be:
Independence in the consideration of
power requirements for Government ac-
tivities:
The lowest possible cost for the power
needs of the Government, and
source Of revenue from the service
supplied to private consumers which If