Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-16

the gas company to substitute diff
ferent units of measure in Detroit
and in Ann Arbor, although all
meters are read in terms of cubic
feet. 1t added:
Further incompetence Is indi-
Gated as thermal units have been
permitted to all various gas
companies in Michigan using
natural gas. Thermal units de-
ceive the public, preventing the
public from receiving the bene-
fits of the lower cost of natural
gas
SHOULD PASS ON SAVING
KarpinSki declared that since
the gas company pays almost
exactly as much for natural as
for the artificial gas it formerly
sold. and since artificial gas con-
tains almost double the thermal
content of artificial gas. sit should
pass along this saving to its
patrons. reducing their charges by
approximately One-half."
Voolfolk said in reply:
"Prof. karpinski is unneces-
sarily agitated about certain
features of the cOmpany's billing
methods. On the day after cleo
ton the company expressed its
gratitude to the people for the
three and a half to one vote
against purchase of the COM
pany's property by the city and
we promised to devote our best
efforts toward the establishment
of better relations with the pub
lie. We Immediately began work
on a plan for the elimination OF
those features which are so
greatly disturbing the professor.
READY FOR PUBLIC SOON
THE company hopes to have
this new plan ready for presen-
tatiOn to the public within the
near future.
"HOwev IL the recent
campaign proved anything, il
completely demonstrated the alb
surdity of Mr.. karpinski's state
ment in tOday's newspapers that
gas rates can be cut so per cent.
The city itself receded from that
position in the town hall meet
ings when IL was shown that If
such cut were made I'm the
cOmpany's revenue there would
not be enough money left to pay
for the raw gas at the city
gates, the annual tax bill and
the payment roll to ~Iy nothing
of a half dozen other large, in
escapable items of expense"
STATEMENT BY O'HARA
OHara said:
THE company and the city
are now discussing a new rate
basis, which is to be submitted
TO us later for approval or re-
lection. The Detroit gas rate
hearing was to be resumed May
10, but I understand a continu-
ance will be asked because all
of the necessary figures are not
yet in order.
AS far as dollars and cents
are concerned, the method of
billing is not a major issue here.
The issue before us to to deter
mine a fair return to the COM
pany on its investment, and
apportionment of that return
among the different classes of
customers.
axEhatha. hiII;no e. h. nEIT
or cubic foot basis involving
BTU is a matter of public rela-
tiOns between the company and
gas users.
We prObed operating costs.
and the question of a fair re-
turn. thoroughly during the
hearings OF the last two years.
Our order reducing rates gave
the company fair return on the
basis of costs at that time. in
Guiding the wholesale cost of
gas at the Detroit gateway"
MAY BTU BASIS BILL
The House Judiciary Committee
yesterday prepared a bill requir-
ing all gas companies TO bill their
customers on a BTU basis.
This bill establishes a ceiling of
so cents per 1000 cubic feet in
Oakland County. served by the
Consumers Power Company. but
it was amended TO exempt Wayne
County from this maximum.
The bill will be reported tomor-
row and will be debated on the
floor next week.
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