The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-08-13
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
STILL CHEAPER ELECTRICITY

As consequence of lowered rates which the
Duke Power company and the Southern Public
Utilities company are to put into effect on October
If &c indicated that local consumers will receive
substantial reductions in their monthly bills.
The savings which customers Of the Duke Power
system throughout North Carolina will effect are
estimated at one million dollars. e. +"
Wben it is recalled that several months ago new
rates were ordered into effect locally which result
ed in considerable savings for majority of the
customers of electrical energy, it becomes appar-
ent that the public utility which serves us is lead
ing the way in making concessions to the people,
as demanded by the Roosevelt administration.
The Record is of the opinion that the manage
ment of the Duke Power company is wise in &C
ceptng the challenge; because there is nc ques-
ton in our mind but that efficiently operated
organization such as the Duke Power company,
can produce and distribute electric energy much
more economically than the federal government.
We do not believe that the Duke Power rates
which have been in effect high, when analysed
and compared with the rates charged throughout
the nation. If the charges effective October
are from IA to 20 per, cent lower, the local
schedule will likely be considerably below the av-
erage for the nation.
NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS p4dHL Sllouiu De PeiH'"-
ted to set up a schedule of rates to be used as
"yardstick" except business basis. That Is,
the, investment value should be set up, and the
plant should be required to operate at a profit
setting aside interest and depreciation costs and
a sinking fund to retire the bonds Above all,
there is no reason why the goverment-owned util-
fly should not have to pay the amount of
taxes as would be charged against the property
were it privately owned There be fair
"yard-stick" set-up except on some such sort of
business basis. Whenever the federal government
attempts to compete on equal footing, many of
us are convinced that the efficiency of privately
operated utilities will stand out in bold relief
compared with the extravaganees of politically
plants owned by the public.
The principal thing that we all should insist
upon is that the federal "yardstick" is not sliced
to about 26 inches through un-business-ike advan-
tages derived from giving no consideration to the
amount of the peoples money expended, by evad-
ing all taxation costs, and as consequence of
paying no interest charges on the money, setting
aside nothing for depreciation, and making no
provision for retiring bonds.
The people are unquestionably entitled to the
lowest possible charges for electricity and if this
energy is supplied cheaply and produced economi-
eally there is no limit to the increased consump-
ton that is potentially possible However, the fed
eral government owes the sacred obligation to the
nation to make sure that the people are not de
ceived into expecting something which is obviously
beyond the realm of possibility, except through
political Juggling and inexcusable waste in t!,e
shape of subsidies, grants, or what have-you-The
Hickory Record. .