Show electricity RATES criticism of the city councils action in increasing the rates for electricity for light and power purposes notice of will be found I 1 elsewhere in this issue is expected from some sources because of the i fact that just now the electric light plant is more than ihan paying paving its wax way it will be remembered however that the rate was increased to ac by the public utilities commission upon the application of the former city Cotin council cil and should have taken effect long since had it not been for delay caused by a misunderstanding relative to the utility commissions requirements the rate schedule has been recently filed however and t comply with the commissions res il lations the nine cent rate must be charged until app application licati on is made and permission granted to reduce that rate it is quite probable that in view of the splendid condition of the electric light fund at this time the present council would not have applied for an increase but since that increase was ordered before their time the only thing to do is to adopt it until such time as it is deemed advise able to ask for a reduction if the lighty light blant lant continues to require as little for expense as I 1 it has done for the past year or more it is is possible that a reduction will le be asked for but there can be no serious objection to charging a tate rate which will accumulate ate a little fund because it is not known when extensive repairs may ue be necessary and if there is money available direct taxation to make them will not be necessary the increase in the flat rates for lights and power was made for the express purpose of forcing the installation stal lation of meters it has long been realized that there is nothing equitable about having part of the consumers on a meter basis and part of them on a flat rate because those who have meters are paying for what they consume and in many instances the flat rate users are not lights where there are nu meters frequently burn day and night to no purpose and those who have meters are made to help pay for such waste too many times too the collector has difficulty in ascertaining just how to charge flat rate consumers ansome in some instances people who have five or six drops in their homes claim that they are using only two lights or three and though the collector has positive knowledge or good reason to believe that they are carrying globes from one to the other and using them all it means no end 0 of f trouble if he attempts to collaci coll collect eci the only equitable way is for everyone to have a meter then one pays for fir what one uses and no more it is with that in ill mind that the recent action of the council was tal taken en allowing until october for all consumers to have meters installed incidentally it might inight be added that the only equitable way to handle our water system is to require water meters people would be more care careful ful about their hydrants running all the time regardless of whether the fellow at the head of the system had bad water or not if they are charged up with the water that they are now wasting waiting |