Evening star., 1940-02-03
Power Rate Cut,
Averaging 10 Gents
A Month, Ordered
Slash to Be Effective
On All Bills Mailed
After February !
BY DON WARREN.

AL OCl lOl q CocC,OSO ASouStAoAA
in the consumer rates of the Po-
tomac Electric Power Co. was issued
today by the Public Utilities Com
mission, which allocates sl55,375 to
residential schedules and $419, ,912
to commercial customers
The rate cut will be effective on
all bills rendered by the company
after February /. 1t was estimated
by the commission that the rate
cut would mean a reduction of 10
cents month on the bills of the
average domestic consumer.
At the same time an unofficial
comparison of the local power rates
with those of other communities of
the United States of more than
$4,000 population, as reported last
year by the Federal Power Com
mission, for average electric bills"
showed that the District rates were
lower than the others-except in
the industrial bracket. Washington
has but little demand for industrial
schedules.
The rate reduction resulted from
operation of the sliding scale plan
for annual adjustment of the COM
pany's charges. This plan provides
a basic rate of return of 6 per cent
on an agreed valuation. The COM
mission found that the weighted
rate base for the calendar year 1889
was s80,974. 1894 and that un-
weighted rate base, as of December
81 last, was $82,527, ,937.86.
New Residential Schedule.
The new residential schedule
"a" which is available for electric
service furnished to individual resi-
dences for any purpose, is as fol-
lows:
For the first 40 kilowatt hours
monthly consumption. 39 cents; for
the next 80 kilowatt hours, Its
cents, and for electricity consumed
monthly in excess of 100 kilowatt
hours, is cents.
These rates apply when monthly
bills are paid within 20 days from
date of rendition. If the bills are
not paid within 20 days, the rates
of charge are 10 per cent more. The
minimum charge will be IS cents per
month for each meter installed, but
not less than $150 for the period
during which the service is fur
nished.
A new commercial schedule %"
which is available for low-voltage
electric service used for general
lighting, power, industrial motors,
battery charging and other CONNER
cial purposes, is as follows:
For the first 80 kilowatt hours,
monthly consumption, 3.8 cents; for
the next 400 kilowatt hours, 23
cents, and for electricity consumed
monthly in excess of 480 kilowatt
hours, 81 cents.
Commercial Schedule.
The new commercial schedule "E,"
which Is available for low-voltage
electric service used for general
lighting, power, industrial motors,
battery charging and other CONNER
cial purposes, and also is available
for primary service under certain
specifications. is as follows:
Energy charge:
For the first 10 kilowatt hours.
monthly consumption, 38 cents; for
the next $50 kilowatt hours, %
cents; for the next 1850 kilowatt
hours, 20 cents; for the next $4,000
kilowatt hours, 12 cents; for the
next $4,000 kilowatt hours, IL cents:
for the next 10000 kilowatt hours,
OF cent, and for any current in
excess of 100000 kilowatt hours, 06
cent. The minimum energy charge
will be IS cents per month for each
meter installed, but not less than
$1.50 for the period during which
the service is furnished.
Demand charge:
For the first 10 kilowatts of the
consumers monthly maximum de-
pnand, the charge is included in the
energy charge; for the next Is kilo-
watts of the consumers monthly
maximum demands, SITS per kilo-
watt.
The above rates are applied to the
consumer maximum demands
which occurred during the billing
month irrespective of the time of
day at which it occurred, including
the peak period.
For the first IS kilowatts of con-
sumer's monthly maximum peak
period demand in excess of Is kilo-
watts, SITS per kilowatt, and for
any excess over 100 kilowatts of the
consumers monthly maximum peak
period demand, $3.50 per kilowatt.