The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-01-08
CLAIM JUNK
PLANTS HIKE
POWER COSTS
Two of Light COmpany'S
Buildings Are Branded
as Obsolete.
EXPERTS ASSAIL USE
Assert They Are of Value
Only to Force Higher
'Writeup.'
BY BASIL GALLAGHER
Times staff Writer

Existence Of two alleged useless
and obsolete" plants of the Indian
apolis Power and Light Company
are millstones around the necks of
electric consumers in this city, it
was charged today.
Utility experts, in data now before
the public service commission, as
sert that the Kentucky avenue and
West Washington street plants of
the light company are useless to
electric consumers.
These experts declare that all the
electric power needed can be de-
veloped in two plantS-the Harding
and Mill streets power stations.
These experts, whose data is in
COrporated in survey Of the utility
by the public service commission,
charge the old and alleged obsolete
Kentucky avenue and West Wash
ington street plants are kept going
only for rate-making purposes.
If these plants, which were ap-
praised at the time of the merger
in excess of S6,000,000 we're writ
ten off" the books, along with prop
erty on North Alabama street, and
other alleged Implications in the dis
tribution system, these experts as
sert that the public service commits
sion would have grounds to grant
a reduction in rates Immediately,
without even taking into consider
alton an alleged $24O0O,0OO write
up" of property values, as alleged
by Sherman Minton, public coun-
SelOr
Utility experts point out that it
would be cheaper to purchase cur
rent from the insult or other super
stations rather than operate these
two white elephants"
Junking Is Urged
In 1881, according to reports to
the public service commission the
indianapolis Power and Light Com
pany paid an insult company S80o,-
900 for current, in 1882, $642 900 in
round numbers.
BY junking the Kentucky avenue
and West Washington street plants
and buying power from insult, the
light company would save enor-
mously in operating expenses, taxes,
etc, it is asserted.
AS a matter of fact, utility eX-
pertS claim, it would be in the in
terests of electrical consumers to
Junk three of the four stations in
operation at the present time which
includes Mill street, and buy cur
rent. above the capacity of the
Harding street plant, from other
sources.
From data before the public serv-
ice commission in preparation for
the hearing on an order to show
cause why electric rates in this city
should not be reduced, there is evil
dence that local plant facilities are
overbuilt for some time to come.
BY the time the local demand will
equal the capacity Of the present
plants, utility experts assert, three
of the present plants will be obsolete
and useless, as well as too expensive
TO operate.
Figures Are Given
The Times submits the following
figures from the records of the engi-
neering department of the public
service commission which in turn
obtined it from the indianapolis
Power and Light Company.
Capacities in XIV or KVA: Wash
ington street plant. 21500 KVA;
MIL Street plant. $4,000 XIV; Ken
lucky avenue plant, 10000 XIV:
South Harding street. 10000 KVA;
Leno~e Satisfaction. 5000 KVA ZAP
proXimately).
The maximum electrical demand
of the indianapolis community for
1882 was reported as $4,000 XIV. For
1881 it was reported at $500 XIV
and for 1880 at So ZOO XIV.
From the above figures, it will be
seen that the greatest maximum de-
mand occurred in 1880 and these
figures are taken for illustration.
Lay Stress on Capacity
1t is agreed by engineers con-
suited by The Times that there
should be a capacity of not less
than so per cent in excess of maxi
mum demand and on this basis the
Harding street and Mill street
plants show 10000 KVA and $4,000
XIV. respectively, or a total of
$4,000 XIV.
The two plants alone have an
excess capacity Of AZ per cent above
the maximum demand In addition
to the facilities for the above two
plants, there also is the larger
Lenore subStation with a capacity
TO bring in 5000 KBA purchas-
able through the insult Dresser
superstition and other sources.
Although the Indianapolis Power
and Light Company. according TO
reports 10 the public service COM
mission. pays the insult owned COM
pany about 100 per cent per K. w.
H. in excess Of cost TO manufacture
in the local stations of the light
company, utility experts maintain
that there would be an enormous
saving to consumers in station DOW
er costs together with the saving
in the return on property value.
which consumers must pay to the
operating company. if the Kentucky
avenue and West Washington street
plants were closed and the valla IF