Evening star., 1946-05-13
Virginia Opens
Theaters Closed
By Brownout
District Continues
Under Same Orders
Regarding Lighting

Many Virginia theaters and
other entertainments shut down
since last Thursday by electric
ity rationing were to open again
today with the same part-time
privileges as other commercial
enterprises.
Relaxing controls over electricity
as the Nations soft coal miners re-
turned to the pits for at least a two
week period, the Virginia State
Corporation Commission gave the
go-ahead signal to places of amuse-
ment yesterday.
Outdoor signs remained dimmed
in the District and industrial and
domestic consumers continued to re-
spect 10-day-old order by the
Commissioners limiting nonessential
electricity users to one watt of light
per square foot.
Power Consumption Cut 14.5T.
Potomac Electric Power Co. Off
cials reported the Districts reduc-
tion of power consumption was only
14.5 per cent yesterday. Although
Pepco has attempted to reduce con-
sumption 80 per cent-Saturday's
figure was % per cent-of6cials
were not alarmed by yesterdays
showing.
They pointed out that businesses
and industries, from whence the
greatest percentage of saving comes,
are closed on Sunday. Yesterday
called for more electricity for light
ing homes than normal because of
thunderstorms.
Pepco officials said they were
being guided in their dimout rec
concentrations by the Civilian Pro-
duction Administration, which has
asked for continued brownouts
through the country. 1t probably
will take a week to determine
whether the rationing program can
be eased, they said.
In placing amusement houses in
the same class with other industrial
and commercial users, the Virginia
commission also made one other
amendment to its original order.
Industrial and commercial users
heretofore limited to "a hours of
electricity week now have the al
tentative of limiting themselves to
not more than so per cent of nor
NAL weeks power consumption.
Applies to 6S Counties.
The commissions ruling applies to
68 Virginia counties, including all
those served by the Virginia Elec-
trio 6S Power Co. Alexandria and
Arlington and Fairfax Counties are
served by Vepco and the Braddock
Light & Power Co., a subsidiary of
the Potomac Electric Power Co.
The commission pointed out that
since renewal of the coal strike
"at the end of two weeks hangs
over the people," the new order cas-
ing restrictions must be on a trial
basis. Vepco will report power sav-
tngs each "a hours. In the event
consumers do not fully comply with
the order, the commission will revert
to an hourly basis of rationing, it
said.
E. Wade Pearson manager of
eight theaters in Arlington, Alexan-
dria and Falls Church, said moving
pictures would be shown two times
daily, at and pm BY eliminating
matinees, the theaters can operate
six nights week, he said.
Whether businessmen will alter
their present hours under the new
order may be determined this after
noon when the Clarendon Business
mems Association discusses the
problem.
The Virginia area still is prohi-
bited use of electricity for comfort
air conditioning, decorative lighting,
sign lighting, window lighting and
similar reasons.
The corporation commission said
il it could be sure the strike will
not be resumed at the end of the
truce period, it would remove en-
tirely all restrictions as soon as evi-
dence is forthcoming that the COM
panies affected could obtain their
usual requirements of coal"