The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1957-01-04
THIS MONTH TELLS
US IF WE GET CUT
IN POWER RATES
Hearing To Be Held By State
Utilities Commission in Ra-
leigh on January 18th

electric current a month, or a to-
tai of Stat per year. There were,
on January 1, of last year 7O3
homes, which represents about all
of Roanoke Island, having meters
and buying electric current. The
total amount paid by these people
was $54, 459.42. They paid an aver
age of about 1926 cents per kilo-
watt hour.
At the same time, only 118
places of business were using
electricity on Roanoke Island, and
their monthly average use was
$20.83 per month, or $250.12 a
year. These 118 places of business,
while using only about one third
as much current, paid over half as
much for it as did all the domestic
users. The average price paid per
kilowatt hour by commercial users,
was about Az cents.
Of course these figures do not
take into account any persons who
may not have paid their bills
promptly, and it may be that some
who did not pay, have greatly af-
fected the average. But figures
show that the current used by Ro-
anoke Island consumers, cost $780,
892.10, and it sold for total of
$84, 453.60. This sum includes $3.50
paid by the town of Manteo.
The difference between cost of
current bought and the amount re-
ceived, was $51 ,848.76. But the
purveyors of current report that
after deducting operating expenses,
taxes, ETC., their net profit was
only $4,882.70. Their report shows
however, the company had owing
to it by its customers, $33,909.55.
This sum in fact, is more than
equal to the amount paid by the
company for all the current bought
during the year.
So whatever of this $33,909.00
is collectible should add more to
the profit made by the company,
after deducting some of its minor
obligations. But they reported hav-
ing on hand $14,506.53 in cash,
far much more than they owed.
The Roanoke Utilities Company
is required to show cause on JAN
uary Is next, before the State
Utilities Commission in Raleigh,
why the prices now charged con-
sumers should not be reduced.
They have reported that they have
$4,000 invested, and are getting
a poor return for their money, but
have frequently explained that
while they are not making money,
they like to keep the business 60
ing to give jobs to people.
The officials of the company
and their several employees have
worked hard to maintain service,
and never stop for weather or time
of night to get service resumed
following one of their seldom
breakdowns, usually due to a pole
being bit off by a vicious auto
mobile. But low voltages at certain
times of day and in some locali-
ties frequently occur, and are ex-
pensive to consumers.
1t is frequently said that the
Virginia Electric & Power COM
pany has a standing offer to pay
$150,000 and better, for this Ro-
anoke Island system, whereby it
would be combined with the YEP
co system now serving the Dare
Beaches, at the same lower rates.
The power company has said they
would discard the entire system
now being used, and build a new
one..
But the Roanoke Utilities Com
pany doesn't wish to sell for $175,-
900, which might be difficult to
understand, why anyone would not
be glad to give up a $4,000 in
vestment which pays little for
a much larger sum that might
yield profitable interest or divi
dends without any work.
But the company has stated all
along that it is this one possession
in which they take most pride, and
having operated it for some 35
years, they considered it a treas
ured possession which they had
planned never to sell. AS small
utilities go, they have been giving
service as good as could be expect
ed, and they have succeeded in CIV
ing employment to many people,
who have steady jobs the year
round.
However, it is unreasonable to
expect, in this day and time, that
small utility operation can give
the same volume of service and
promotion, and sell current as
cheaply as the larger systems.
During the past several years, most
smaller towns and cities of the
state have rapidly abandoned the
electric business, and have sold to
the larger systems, in order that
their people might enjoy the lower
rates whereby greater industrial
and commercial expansion usually