Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-04
Area Utilities to Step Up
Expansion Sharply in SO

49, SAA0 NCAC
phone companies plan to spend
around 1858 million for new
construction and improvements
to take care Of growth Of the
Washington Metropolitan Ares
during 1856. yearend statement,
from company executives dis
CLOSED.
The coming years indicated
total will compare with s71.3
million in 1855 and sos mil
lion in 1854.
Potomac Electric Power Co
spent more than $40 million in
1885, expects to spend another
$35 million for additions to cleo
trio plant i'll 1856. and yet an
other 1920 million in four years
from 1857 through 1860.
Washington Gas Light Co,
spent more than $13.5 million
for improvement Of facilities in
1855. raising the total since 1851
to more than $50 million. The
construction budget for 1856
calls for another SITS million.
Chesapeake g. Potomac Tele-
phone Co. spent $50 million in
the area in the last year and ex-
poets to spend at least this
much and probably a little
more in 1855. 1t spent $25 mil
lion in 1854.
Virginia Electric & Power Co.
spent around $7.8 million in Viz
GINA sections Of the area in the
last year and plans to spend
about $4.3 million in 1856. Ex-
penditures in 1854. including a
large amount for the Possums
Point plant. totaled $12 million.
More Electricity Used
r. Roy Dunn, president OF
Potomac Electric Power Co., said
his company's expansion pro-
gram has resulted both from
continued high level OF Govern
ment and business activity in
this area and from the greater
use of electricity by more than
800. 900 customers.
"Of particular interest in 1855
was the approval of our applica-
ton for a general increase in
electrical rates, effective May g.
Mr.. Dunn declared. The new
rates were designed to produce
about $3.7 million of additional
gross operating revenue annual
ly. based on 1884 sales.
Following this. the company
sold $40 million OF first mortgage
bonds and obtained about SIC
million from sale Of common
stock. Proceeds were used to pay
OF bank loans and the balance
was available for construction. y
Electric sales in 1855 approx
mated 3,180,000.000 kilowatt
hours, an increase of about 7 per
cent from 1854. Residential sales
were up around 9.5 per cent. low
voltage commercial up S.5 per
cent and high-voltage CONNER
cial around SIS per cent higher,
Average annual use per resi-
Dental customer increased to
around AHA kilowatt hours in
1855. compared with 2,540 kilo-
watt hours in 1854. A new all
time peak load Of $4,000 kilo-
watts was recorded on August 2
a gain of 9.3 per cent from the
previous years peak of TAI .00o
kilowatts on September 7, 1854
Gas Sales Jump 8 Per Cent
Sales of Washington Gas Light
Co. reached a new record of 322,-
400 900 therms in 1855, with a
gain of more than 8 per cent
from the previous year, reported
Everett J. Boothby. company
president.
Sales were stimulated by en-
phasis on promotional activities
and a large increase in invest
ments in facilities, he said. Pres
ent consumers increased their
use Of gas and some $4,000 addi-
tional customers were added to
the lines during the year.
ITO secure money necessary
for expansion in 1855, the COM
pany issued l30,04l shares of
common stock in March for $4.8
million and sold So million of
3la per cent mortgage bonds in
June" he added. Further A.
nancing will be necessary in
1856, but the type of securities
to be offered has not yet been
determined"
Mr.. Boothby reported the
company has continued to ex-