The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1941-03-20

erfatic IN floH depending upon sea-
son q TIE year.
This has caused the hmlts-
tan Of the original >isauslly
unit. IacamAs first hxdre-
electric plant. since II slws,s
Vas dependent upon anesnt
Of water flowing In the stream
~ am given time: plenty Of
water in the STREAM. plenty ef
power: little water. little
power.
Yet even on this basis. Niseuaily
plant pad fer itself many years
ago and by careful maintenance
and replacement, Is stin a full-hfs.
going plant today.
rsoomss existing SIS. 900 600
+ plant. including two units Of - 600
and $4,000 kilowatts on Lake
Cushman and the local steam
standby plants. are nearly paid
for now. Only a little more than
81 600, 600 OF the total cost remains
unpaid and represents a relatively
small annual obligation OF bond
retirement out OF the systems
earnings.
/ oNeil expects 10 present his
ordinance 10 the council earlY next
week. He offers TO 10 before any
organization to justify his proposal
and with Mayor Cain and other
council colleagues proposes pos
sibly one night meeting Of the
council for public hearing where
anyone interested may fire all the
questions he pleases.
I'm sure Of my ground and
I'm ready TO meet any argu-
ment," ONeil asserted.
To the citizens Of Tacoma:
In accordance with the provi-
sions Of the city charter, directing
the commissioner Of public utih-
ties to make the necessary investi-
cation and surveys to provide for
the future power requirements for
Tacoma, and with the authority
granted by the city council TO
employ competent engineers for
that purpose. surveys Of possible
/ hydro-electrie sites were started
last September.
Before starting these surveys.
an analysis of Tacomas present
and future power requirements
disclosed that the total power and
light load of Taeoma's hyrdo-elec-
trio plants had, on January /,
1910 about reached their fun year
/ ly capacity, and the fact that al
though the rainfall for the season
+ 1s39-lq40 WAS almost normal. IL
was necessary TO purchase 10000
600 kilowstt hours Of energy dur
ing the summer Of 1910. convinced
those in charge Of your light and
power system that II Tacoma was
To continue its leadership in hsv-
ing the lowest electric rates in
the nation, new sources Of low
cost electricity would have to be
had.
Steady Increase
As records Indicate that the in
crease in the Use Of electricity in
Tacoma has averaged approx
mately II per cent year since
1902. the decision WAS reached
that new power development
should be about equal to our pres
ent hydro-electric supply. which Is
approximately $50 100000 kilo-
watt hours per year. Accordingly
surveys and estimates were made
on this bsAs.
The estimates which are now in
my office, disclose that based upon
standard rates OF depreciation.
/ Tacoma can. by constructing its
own power plants. secure firm
power At rate OF N266 per kilo-
watt year. while should firm power
he purchased. our cost would be
/ $3.50 per kilowstt year.
This indicates that Tacoma can.
with its own generating plants
produce electricity at a rate low
enough 10 permit the payment Of
the present 10 per cent gross
/ earnings tax 10 CITY and state
and meet the competition OF the
$3.50 per kilowatt yesr rate with
fair margin Of safety 10 the
utility.
VIII PAY Own Way
As the present load curve indi-
Gates that there viii be almost a
fun load for the new generating
plant AZ the time Of its com
pletion which II construction
starts this summer should be
sometime during 1914. assures
that the proposed development
can. without any burden on the
existing plants or system, pay is
own way.
This is proven by computations
which show that the entire capt
tai investment can 10 snnortizsd
/ IN 30 years from its earnings. and
/ there still remain ample funds
I for operation and maintenance
Due 70 the surplus earnings ~
the entire system. the new develop
ment viii b paid FOR IN 20 years
or less, which VIII reduce interest
/ costs
II i very possible that between
81 900 600 and 81 OO0. 900 Of con-