Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-25
Another Connection
Urged 10 Prevent
Virginia B|ackouts
Conference Thursday
Will Seek to End
Electricity Interruptions

A proposal that a connection be
established between Virginia Public
Service Co. lines and those of the
Potomac Electric Power Co., to
avoid future "blackouts" such as
have occurred in the Northern Vir-
ginia area recently, will be ad-
vanced at an engineers conference
sponsored by the Federal Power
Commission Thursday, it was learned
today.
The conference will be partici-
pated in by representatives of the
Virginia State Corporation Commits
sion, the Potomac Electric Power
Co. and its Virginia subsidiary, the
Braddock Light & Power Co., and
the Arlington County Public Utili-
ties Commission.
The State Corporation Commits
sion was urged to petition the Fed
eral agency for the conference in a
letter from Chairman j. Maynard
Magruder of the Arlington utilities
group.
The Arlington Utilities Commits
sion directed the State Corporation
Commissions attention to two recent
power failures, affecting some areas
for more than four hours, and also
to several such failures last winter
Something Called Wrong.
obviously, there is something
fundamentally wrong with the
physical properties of the Virginia
Public Service Co." Mr.. Magruder
told the State Commission. Hardly
a week passes in which electric
clocks do not show cessation of
current"
The State Corporation Commission
was urged to take steps to bring
about an emergency connection be-
tween the v. P. S. and the Braddock
Co., but a reply from Chairman H
Lester Hooker indicates that the
State officials do not believe this can
be done.
1.-The fact that the Potomac Elec-
trio Power Co., the source of Brad
dock Light & Power Co.'S energy
is outside the State of Virginia does
not leave the State of Virginia
powerless," Mr.. Magruder told the
Corporation Commission. eve be-
lieve that your commission can ask
the Federal Power Commission to
compel the Braddock or Potomac
Electric Power Cos. to furnish such
standby service to the v. P s."
Federal Act Referred To.
As authority, the Arlington Utili-
ties Commission referred to section
202b of the Federal Power Act, au-
thorizing the Federal Power Com
mission to order connections be-
tween utilities in the event of emer-
gencies. Such Federal Power Com
mission orders could be made either
upon the application of a State
commission or the public utility af-
fected or whenever the Federal
Power Commission determines an
emergency to exist, Mr.. Magruder
said.
The large number of national de-
tense projects in the Northern Vir-
GINA area served by v. P. S., in
Guiding military reservations, the
United States Naval Radio Station
in Arlington, the Alexandria tor.
pedo plant and the new nationa
airport, make steady flow of power
necessary, Mr.. Magruder contends
He cites the Presidents declaration
of limited national defense emer-
gency as reason why the Fedora
Power Commission could order the
connection.
Chairman Hooker of the Stat.
Corporation Commission has replied
to Mr.. Magruder, however: II do no
think the Federal Power Commission
would have any authority in thu
matter to which you refer, for thu
reason that IL months ago we sug.