Evening star., 1935-12-09
Commission Expected to
Render Early Decision
on Sliding Scales.
CHANGES IN PROPOSAL
INDICATED AT HEARING
Average Domestic Use Would
Receive Smallest Advan-
tages Under Plan.

ton of the sliding scale plan for an
nual correction of rates of the WASH
ington & Georgetown Gas Light Cos.
and an immediate net rate reduction
of S305. 900 probably will be announced
by the Public Utilities Commission be-
fore the end of this week.
Public hearings on proposals were
concluded at noon today, and the COM
mission announced it would render a
decision with all reasonable dispatch"
From the trend of debate at the hear
ings it has been indicated the COM
mission will ask the company to make
some" change in the framework of
the proposed sliding scale and in the
ALLEGATION of the proposed rate cut.
The hearing was concluded after
company officials this morning intro
duced data on the expected sffeCa on
its business of the sliding scale and
an analysis of the effect on different
classes of customers of the proposed
new rate schedules.
See Sales Boost Lost.
Company officials estimated their
total sales of gas would have been
increased nearly 10 per cent on next
June 80 had the reduced rates pro-
posed under the pending sliding scale
plan been in effect for the year ending
with that date.
Evidence to this effect was submit
ted to the commission as hearings
we're resumed on the proposal Of the
companies for adoption of a sliding
scale plan on which the commission
would allow basic net return of 6.5
per cent on an agreed rate base Of
$21, 10000.
At the same time the companies SUBJ
mitted further analyses Of the effects
on different brackets of gas users of
the proposed new rates, calculated to
effect an immediate rate reduction
amounting to a gross of 1851, 900. or
a net cut of $305, 900 below the present
8.5 per cent discount which has been
in effect since August Of 1882.
Average Consumer Aided Least.
The new figures on customer rate
reductions again showed that the
average domestic consumer, the largest
body of company customers, would re-
ceive the smallest benefit out of the
net $305,00 additional cut. 1t has
been figured that the average domestic
consumer, one not using large quanti-
ties of gas for house heating. would
get a reduction on monthly bills Of
some or cents.
Much heavier cuts would be given
to the smaller number Of commercial
and industrial users, particularly
through adoption of the requested
promotion" or optional rates.
The new calculations as to the effect
Of the proposed new rates were SUBJ
mitted to the commission by John
Bruton. associate gas company coun.
sci, and we're based on data prepared
by Robert Overs, treasurer of the COM
panies. Overs told the commission
the figures were based on past ex-
perience of the companies, the present
trend of growth of business and oper-
ating expenses. Under the new rates,
he said it was figured, the rate of in
crease in volume of sales would be
somewhat higher than in the past.
Domestic Consumer Figures Given.
1t is calculated that $167 ,120 Of the
total additional rate cut of $305, 900
would go to domestic consumers.
Fifty-one per cent of the domestic
consumers use between 900 and 1000
cubic feet of gas month. Company
calculations today showed this class
Of domestic consumers would receive
a total cut of $19,774, or lib per cent
of the total domestic cut of S167, ,120.
Unoficially, it was figured these
domestic consumers would get but
per cent of the total additional cut
of $305,Oo0.
The same table shows domestic con.
sumers using from 400 to 10000 Gu
bic feet a month, or "a per cent Of
the total of domestic consumers, would
get reductions totaling $63, BOT, or 3S.2
per cent Of the domestic cut. Five per
cent of the domestic consumers, those
using more than 10000 cubic feet,
would get $8o,155, or 48 per cent Of
the domestic cut Of S167,120. Those
domestic consumers using 800 cubic
feet or less per month, or 1872 per cent
of the total number Of domestic GUS
toners, would get no reduction.
Exhibits submitted by the companies
showed $20,459 Of the additional rate
cut would go to consumers under the
&c" schedule for commercial and in
dustrial use. Again, this schedule
showed the larger consumers would
receive a greater cut than those in
the smaller brackets Of use. For in
stance, II per cent in the "C' sched-
ule, using from 10000 to 100000 cubic
feet, would receive a cut of $13,729,
Or 81 per cent of the $20,459.
Over 100000 Get Is Per Cent.
Those using from 100000 to 1,000,-
BOO cubic feet, or less than per cent
Of the total consumers in this class,
would receive cuts amounting to Is
per cent of the $20,459 cut. Those
using less than 900 cubic feet on the
&C" schedule would get no reduction
and those using from 1000 to 10000
cubic feet, or So per cent Of this class,
would get cut Of 80 per cent Of the
s2o. .459.
The optional" or promotional com.
nercial and industrial schedule shows
consumers using from 10000 to 100,-
700 cubic feet, or 76.5 per cent Of the
,otal users in this class, would re-
,eive a cut Of 38.5 per cent Of the total
'eduction for this schedule of SIC, 9,460.
Consumers in this bracket using from
LOO. 600 to 100000 cubic feet, or 11.7
per cent Of the total in this class,
would receive 55.7 per cent of the
s79, 400. The optional rate users who
consume 900 or less cubic feet, or 8
Der cent of this class Of consumers,
would get less than per cent Of the
s79. .460 cut. and 10 per cent Of the