Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-01-09
Raps
Gas Light Go.
On High Rates
Truth-in-BiIIinq
Urged to Reveal
Producers Shore
BY DON S. WARREN

Senator Monroney. Democrat
of Oklahoma, today continued
to pound away at the Washing
ton Gas Light Co. and other gas
distributors who are opposing
the move Of the Oklahoman and
other Senator's to free gas pro-
ducers from Federal rate regu-
lation.
Senator Monroney. with SEN
ator Fulbright, Democrat Of
Arkansas. today introduced the
bill to require Washington Gas
Light to print on the face of
each consumers bill a break
down showing how much of the
bill goes to the producer, the
Ipipe line company and the dis
tributor.
The Senator charges that
Washington rates are exorbitant
and that there is an excessive
spread between what the pro-
Queer gets and what the gas
company gets.
Urges Truth in Billing"
The Monroney -Fulbright Dis
trict bill is related to the ma
tional fight over gas producer
regulation. But the Oklahoman
declares statements made by a
Washington Gas Light official
shows that his truth in billing"
measure is independently needed.
Oscar Berry. attorney for the
Gas Light Company, said there
had been an IL per cent rise in
space heating rates and a Z per
cent increase in rates for other
usese here since 1945. But he
declared that in that period the
cost charged by producers has
gone up 100 per cent. He added
that since l949, the rate VIGIL
pays Its pipeline supplier has
gone up "a per cent.
Mr.. Berry said the local rate
increases sought since 1916 were
needed to meet producers price
increases and increased operat-
ing costs. Since 1916, he said,
the number Of Washington Gas
Light consumers increased Al per
cent and its investment in plant
by more than 100 per cent.
Mr.. Berry said his company
had no objection to publishing
any figures required by law but
that he feels the public is kept
informed by annual reports to
regulatory agencies.
Raps Gas Council
Senator Monroney. in his
statement today, took o crack
lat VIGIL for having become a
member Of the Council OF Local
Gas Companies, which is oppos-
ing the national gas bill which
would exempt producers from
Federal regulation.
Nov that the big Eastern
city distributing companies have
organized q lobby to protect
their exorbitant charges for
taking gas from the city gate to
the burner tip" the Senator
said, "the truth in billing act
lis especially needed to get the
truth to the consumer. Even
Itually. II passed. it will force
down the exorbitant spread for
delivery within the city.
Washington, with its spread
of $1.l0 for city delivery, and
Baltimore, with a city spread Of
i$1.13, are among the high areas
in the Nation. Other exorbitant
areas are New York City. Phil
adelphia and cities in Connecti-
cut. Rhode Island and Massa-
chusettS." Senator Monroney
declared.
"All OF these compare UNI
favorably with the lower city
delivery charges made at such
places as Columbus, Ohio, Pitts
burgh. Louisville and Kansas
City, Mo-. where the range of
the spread is between 27.7 cents
and 43.4 cents, he said.
Notes Revenue Increase
Senator Monroney accused
Mr.. Berry of having intention
ally failed to state that the sup
ply Of gas into the Washington
Gas Light system today costs
less than did the artificial gas
supplied in l945 as 1t entered
his distributing line in the Dis
trict.
He declared that VIGIL rev.
enues increased from SAP
million in 1945 to 1891 million.
He added ''its income before in
come taxes on alleged losses
from write-downs on conversion
had increased from $2,524,000
ito $9,068,000 since the change
over from artificial to natural
gas.
why is it. then, that local
consumers must pay so much
more for gas which now costs
less?" Senator Monroney asked.
Mr.. Berry. as does the rest of
the lobby organization of local
gas utilities, points the finger of
blame at the producer and asks
to have him regulated by the
Federal Power Commission.
| n:sG.:-I A. Lit