liniv.of Ill. Library 
 
 54 
 
 iio 
 
 
 Oak Street 
 UNCLASSIFIED 
 
 THE ELECTRIC BUREAU 
 
 OF THE 
 
 DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICE 
 
 CITY OF CHICAGO 
 
 ROOM 613, CITY HALL 
 Telephones: Main 236; Automatic 32-854 
 
 MONTAGUE FERRY, Commissioner 
 
 
 OCTOBER 1, 1914 
 
 
y*M¥ER$ITY 05 " ' S LIBRARY 
 
 FEB 15 1919 
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 General . 
 
 Tentative Rules for Electric Service of the State Public Utilities Commis¬ 
 sion of Illinois ... 
 
 Proposed Ordinance Providing for the Test, Inspection, Sealing and Adjust¬ 
 ment of Consumers’ Electric Meters... 
 
 Rates . 
 
 Complaints . 
 
 Electric Service Inspection . 
 
 Voltage Regulation . 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 10 
 
 13 
 
 16 
 
 18 
 
 BUREAU ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Supervisor of Electric Light and Power .C. E. ScliuLt 
 
 Assistant Supervisor of Electric Light and Power .F. J. Leimer 
 
 Service Inspectors Special Investigators 
 
 Meter Testers Stenographers 
 
 U. Of ,AL UB. 
 

September 26, 1914. 
 
 To the Hon. Carter H. Harrison, Mayor, 
 
 and Aldermen of the City Council Assembled: 
 
 Gentlemen: — 
 
 I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the Electric Bureau of 
 the Department of Public Service. 
 
 The work of this Bureau is in charge of Supervisor C. E. Schutt, who has 
 had many years’ experience as consulting engineer in the electrical field. He 
 has done expert work for municipalities in Indiana and Ohio, and has had 
 operating experience in several utility companies. I consider the results ac¬ 
 complished by Mr. Schutt during the summer to be very important. His de¬ 
 fense of the interests of Chicago in connection with the electric rules pro¬ 
 posed to be issued by the State Public Utilities Commission of Illinois was 
 very ably conducted before the Commission on July 16th, last. 
 
 An ordinance covering the testing of electric meters is submitted in the 
 report and has been referred to your Committee on Gas, Oil and Electric Light 
 for attention. 
 
 A valuable public service is being rendered in the work of service inspec¬ 
 tion with the result that a knowledge of the application of rates and the qual¬ 
 ity of service is being obtained which could not be secured in any other way. 
 
 Respectfully submitted, 
 
 M. FERRY, 
 
 Commissioner of Public Service. 
 
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 https://archive.org/details/electricbureauofOOchic 
 
GENERAL. 
 
 The activities of the Electric Bureau during the months of July, August 
 and September has been confined chiefly to six problems. 
 
 (1) Service conditions in the City of Chicago. 
 
 (2) Analyses of the factors affecting the consumers’ bills for electricity. 
 
 (3) Rules for electric service—State Commission. 
 
 (4) Complaints. 
 
 (5) Statistics. 
 
 (6) Elevated railways valuation (Special Items). 
 
 Investigation of conditions under which electricity is being sold has led to 
 action looking toward standardization. An ordinance covering meter tests is 
 needed; the proposed ordinance* (page 8), drawn to conform with state stat¬ 
 utes, should be passed and enforced. 
 
 Rate problems require detailed analysis to determine reasonableness of 
 rates as affecting the income of the utility companies, and injustice or discrim¬ 
 ination in rate fixing. Tangible results may be attained by explaining to eon- 
 sumers the factors affecting their bills. 
 
 The handling of complaints has occupied considerable time—well spent. 
 Much valuable assistance has been rendered consumers and in a number of 
 cases important facts have been brought to the attention of the department— 
 notably, considerations involved in the furnishing of service to consumers 
 where street mains must be extended. Since August, the Commonwealth Edi¬ 
 son Company has, due to retrenchments, failed to furnish prospective consum¬ 
 ers with service where an extension of mains was necessary, unless the con¬ 
 sumer deposits with the company a sum equal to the cost of making such 
 extension. 
 
 SERVICE IS DENIED. 
 
 The previous practice of the company, that of extending service to all who 
 ask it has educated the public to consider electric service as available to all 
 residents of Chicago. A rude awakening has brought the people face to face 
 with the problem of obtaining this commodity which has come to be regarded 
 as a universal necessity. 
 
 The collection of valuable information regarding the present existing reg¬ 
 ulatory measures and compliance therewith is being constantly pursued. 
 
 The problem of solving the tangled conditions affecting the supplying of 
 electricity to consumers is one that is constantly engaging the attention of 
 regulating bodies. In attempting a solution scientific treatment and analysis 
 may not be considered apart from practical considerations. New factors are 
 being discovered which may either simplify matters or cause further com¬ 
 plications. 
 
 Much engineering work must be done by Chicago coupled with investiga¬ 
 tion of our local conditions. Other states and municipalities are compiling in¬ 
 formation and performing research work for the improvement of conditions at 
 large. Their findings are of value as a guide to similar work in Chicago. But 
 the problems peculiar to this city are of such great local importance as to re* 
 quire thorough analysis and persistent investigation, 
 
TENTATIVE RULES FOR ELECTRIC SERVICE OF THE 
 STATE PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION OF ILLINOIS. 
 
 The State Public Utility Commission of Illinois since July of this year has 
 had before it the question of rules regarding the supply of electricity. Repre¬ 
 sentatives of the City of Chicago recently appeared before the Commission 
 with the contention that in framing rules, adequate consideration had not 
 been given to Chicago conditions and asked for certain changes. 
 
 In the comparison set forth below, the proposed rules of the State Public 
 Utility Commission of Illinois are printed with the required changes and 
 comments. 
 
 Rule 15. Creeping Meters. No electricity meter which registers 
 upon “no load’’ shall be placed in service or allowed to remain in 
 service. 
 
 Rule 16. Allowable Errors. No electricity meter shall be placed in 
 
 * service or allowed to remain in service which has an incorrect register 
 constant, test constant, gear ratio, or dial train, or which has an error 
 in measurement in excess of 4% between one-tenth and full connected 
 load. 
 
 These two rules are covered in the proposed city ordinances as follows: 
 “When any consumer’s meter is tested as in this section provided and is found 
 inaccurate, it shall be adjusted so as to register within one percent (1%) any 
 and all amounts of electricity passing through the said meter when such 
 amounts are between ten percent (10%) of and one hundred percent (100%) 
 of the rated capacity of the said meter. 
 
 “Any meter which cannot be adjusted as hereinbefore provided or any 
 meter which ‘creeps’ or registers when no electricity is passing through the 
 same, shall be removed from service within thirty days after notice thereof 
 given by the Commissioner of Public Service, to the seller.” 
 
 Rule 16 is completely covered also by an already existing city ordinance. 
 
 Rule 17. Installation Tests. Each watt-hour meter shall be checked 
 for correct connection, mechanical conditions, suitable location and ac¬ 
 curacy of measurement at approximately three-quarters and one-tenth 
 connected load by comparing the meter with approved suitable stand¬ 
 ards in its permanent position in place of service within thirty days 
 after installation. Meters operating at low power-factor shall also be 
 tested at approximately the minimum power-factor under which they 
 will be required to operate. Meters installed with instrument trans¬ 
 formers or shunts must be tested jointly with transformers or shunts, 
 otherwise, the ratio of transformation of the transformers or calibration 
 of the shunts must be determined at least once every five years. 
 
 “All consumers’ meters hereafter installed shall be tested as hereinafter pre¬ 
 scribed within ninety (90) days after such installation. Such test shall be 
 termed within the meaning of this ordinance, ‘installation test.’ ” 
 
 Rule 18. Periodic Tests. Each watt-hour meter shall be tested ac¬ 
 cording to the following schedule and adjusted whenever it is found to 
 be in error more than one percent, the test both before and after ad¬ 
 justment being made at approximately three-quarters and one-tenth of 
 the rated capacity of the meter. Meters operated at low power-factor 
 shall also be tested at approximately the minimum power-factor under 
 which they will be required to operate. The tests shall be made by 
 comparing the meter, while connected in its permanent position on the 
 consumer’s premises with approved, suitable standards, making at least 
 two test runs at each load, of at least thirty seconds each, which agree 
 within one percent. 
 
 Two and three wire commutating type and mercury type meters up 
 to and including fifty (50) amperes rated capacity of meter element 
 shall be tested at least once every eighteen (18) months, 
 
 4 
 
Two and three wire commutating type and mercury type meters of 
 over fifty (50) amperes rated capacity of meter element, shall be tested 
 at least once every twelve (12) months. 
 
 Two and three wire single phase induction type meters, up to and 
 including twenty-five (25) amperes rated capacity of meter element, and 
 manufactured prior to January 1, 1907, shall be tested at least once 
 every thirty (30) months. Meters of the same type and rating manu¬ 
 factured since January 1, 1907, shall be tested at least once every thirty- 
 six (36) months. 
 
 Two and three wire single phase induction type meters of over twen¬ 
 ty-five (25) amperes rated capacity of meter element, shall be tested 
 at least once every twenty-four (24) months. 
 
 Self contained polyphase meters up to and including 50 K. W. rated 
 capacity, shall be tested at least once every eighteen (18) months. 
 
 Self contained polyphase meters of over 50 K. W. shall be tested at 
 least once every twelve (12) months. 
 
 Polyphase meters connected through current transformers or cur¬ 
 rent and potential transformers, to circuits of over fifty (50) K. W. 
 rated capacity, shall be tested at least once every eighteen (18) months. 
 
 In no case shall commutator type meters having heavy moving ele¬ 
 ments and sapphire jewels, be allowed to make more than 1,000,000 
 revolutions between tests. Where meters are found to register consid¬ 
 erably in error when tested on the above schedule the Commission re¬ 
 serves the right to order the particular meter or class of meters tested 
 more frequently. 
 
 An objection was offered before the Commission to the complexity of this 
 rule. The proposed ordinance of the City of Chicago covers the subject of 
 periodic tests in the following manner: “All consumers’ meters shall be tested 
 as hereinafter prescribed at least once in every two years. Such tests shall be 
 termed ‘periodic tests.’ ” 
 
 Rule 19. Meter Tests Records. Whenever an electricity meter is 
 tested the original test record shall be kept indicating the information 
 necessary for identifying the meter, the reasons for making the test, the 
 reading of the meter before being disturbed, the statement regarding 
 creepage and the accuracy of measurement together with all data taken 
 at the time of the test. This record must be sufficiently complete to 
 permit the convenient checking of the methods and the calculations. All 
 utilities having more than 250 electricity meters in service shall main¬ 
 tain a meter record, numerically arranged, indicating approximately 
 when the meter was purchased, its identification, its various places of 
 installation with dates of installation and removal and the data and 
 general results of all tests, and shall tabulate the results of tests ac¬ 
 cording to type of meters and intervals of tests, compiled monthly and 
 annually. 
 
 This rule is covered both in an existing city ordinance and in Section 10 
 of the proposed ordinance. 
 
 Rule 20. Meter Testing Equipment. Each utility furnishing metered 
 electric service shall own suitable working standards for the testing of 
 electricity meters and even maintain these standards correct within 
 one-half of one percent or apply the proper correction to all tests. Sec¬ 
 ondary standards of some approved type shall be owned and maintained 
 by each utility having more than 250 electricity meters in service. 
 
 In the proposed city ordinance covering the testing of electric meters, the 
 maintenance of standard instruments is not required by the sellers of elec¬ 
 tricity. Such companies, however, as do maintain proper standards and 
 methods of testing may be allowed to make installation and periodic tests 
 upon meters belonging to them under provision as follows: 
 
 “Section 4, Paragraph 2. All installation tests and all periodic tests shall 
 be made by the Commissioner of Public Service or his representative, or by 
 such person or persons competent to make such tests, as the Commissioner 
 of Public Service shall, in writing, authorize. Such tests shall be made at 
 the expense of the seller and the said seller shall pay for all such tests 
 made by the Commissioner of Public Service or his representative, to the 
 Collector of the City of Chicago, the fee or fees hereinafter prescribed.” 
 
 5 
 
Rule 21. Request Tests. Each utility furnishing metered electric 
 service shall make a test of the accuracy of any electricity meter 
 upon request of the consumer, provided the consumer does not request 
 such tests more frequently than once in six months. A report giving 
 the result of each request test shall be made to the consumer and the 
 complete, original record kept on file in the office of the utility. 
 
 Rule 22. Referee Tests. Any electricity meter may be tested by 
 an inspector employed by the commission, upon written application of 
 the consumer. For such test a fee shall be forwarded to the commis¬ 
 sion by the consumer when making application; the amount of this 
 fee shall be refunded to the consumer by the utility if the meter is 
 found to be fast beyond the 4% limit. The amount of fee to be col¬ 
 lected for these tests so made shall be $2.00. For each single phase 
 or continuous current electricity meter having a voltage rating not 
 exceeding 250 volts, and a current capacity not exceeding 25 amperes 
 without having instrument transformers; for other electricity meters 
 having a capacity not exceeding 100 amperes the test fee shall be $4.00 
 per meter; for all others the fee shall be $8.00 per meter. 
 
 The provisions of these two rules of the State Commission are covered 
 in the proposed city ordinance as follows: 
 
 “Section 3, Paragraph 3. Whenever any person shall make application 
 to the Commissioner of Public Service for a test of any consumer’s meter, and 
 shall present the receipt hereinafter prescribed, such test as hereinafter pre¬ 
 scribed shall be made by the Commissioner of Public Service or his repre¬ 
 sentative, and shall be termed within the meaning of this ordinance ‘com¬ 
 plaint test.’ ” 
 
 “Section 4, Paragraph 1. Any person making application for complaint 
 test shall deposit with the Collector of the City of Chicago, the fee or fees 
 hereinafter prescribed and he shall receive from the said Collector of the 
 City of Chicago, a receipt, which shall state the amount of the fee or fees 
 deposited, the name of the person making said application, the name of the 
 seller, the location of the said consumer’s meter, the rating of the said con¬ 
 sumer’s meter in amperes and the voltage of the connected circuit.” 
 
 The fees for the test of any electric meter by the City of Chicago are 
 provided in Section 7 of said ordinance and the test which shall be applied to 
 any meter is defined in Section 8, Paragraph 3, of said ordinance. 
 
 Rule 26. Extension of Street Mains. Every electric utility should 
 set free two (2) poles and furnish free necessary wires for an exten¬ 
 sion, up to 200 feet, of an overhead street main for any consumer who 
 may request such service. 
 
 Any street main extension requested by a prospective consumer 
 for any point within the corporate limits of any city or village or for 
 any immediate adjacent suburb or addition to a city or village which 
 shall require a length of line over and above the free limit, shall be 
 made under the following conditions: The consumer requesting such 
 service shall be obliged to deposit with the electric company an amouni 
 equal to the cost of such extension, and a rebate shall be made to the 
 consumer whose service shall be taken off of said extension within a 
 period of ten years, but at no time shall the rebate which is made 
 exceed the original deposit made by the consumer. 
 
 If the extension beyond the free limit which is requested by the 
 consumer is of such length and the prospective business which may 
 be developed from such extension is so meager as to make it doubtful 
 whether the business from the extension will ever pay a fair return 
 on the investment, the facts shall be reported to the Utilities Commis¬ 
 sion for their investigation and determination as to the reasonable¬ 
 ness of such extension. 
 
 At the time this rule was under discussion the following objections were 
 offered by the representatives of the City of Chicago: The rule recognizes 
 no diversity of demands among consumers of different classes, no com¬ 
 parative value of service, and no comparative value of returns. It provides 
 for no method of return to the consumer of investment in extensions to an 
 isolated consumer whose revenue should entitle him to a quick return of his 
 deposit. The rule admits of discrimination between consumers in like but 
 
 G 
 
not identical positions in that extensions may be made without request or re¬ 
 quest may be demanded. The rule makes such deposit obligatory when such 
 extension is made upon request. Following is the rule which was offered as 
 a substitute: 
 
 PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE FOR RULE 26—EXTENSION OF STREET MAINS. 
 
 “Every electric utility shall set two (2) poles and furnish necessary wires, 
 free of cost to the consumer, for an extension up to 200 feet of an overhead 
 street main, for any consumer who may request such service. 
 
 “Any street main extension requested by a prospective consumer for any 
 purpose other than public lighting service for any point within the corporate 
 limits of any city or village, or for any immediate adjacent suburb or addition 
 to a city or village which shall require a length of line over and above the 
 free limit, as herein defined, shall be made under the following conditions: 
 the consumer requesting such service shall be required to deposit with the 
 electric company an amount equal to the cost of such extension in excess of 
 the free limit as defined above, and a rebate shall be made to the consumer 
 equal to the cost of the length of free extension, for each consumer whose 
 service shall be taken off said extension within a period of ten years, but at 
 no time shall the rebate which is made exceed the original deposit made by 
 the consumer. 
 
 “This rule shall not be construed to prohibit the entering into contract for 
 extension of service, between a consumer and the utility, and providing other 
 means of return to consumer of the investment in or deposit for extensions by 
 consumer, provided such contract schedule is approved by the Commission and 
 is applied without discrimination. 
 
 “If the extension beyond the free limit which is requested by the consumer 
 or an extension for public lighting service is of such length and the pros¬ 
 pective business which may be developed from such extension is so meager 
 as to make it doubtful whether the business from the extension will ever pay 
 a fair return on the investment, the facts shall be reported to the Utilities 
 Commission for their investigation and determination as to the reasonable¬ 
 ness of such extension.” 
 
 Rule 27. Voltage Variation. Each electric utility operating in a 
 city having a population of 1,500 or more shall adopt a standard volt¬ 
 age for the entire constant potential system and shall maintain the 
 voltage within three percent of such standard on all lighting circuits 
 during lighting hours; on power circuits and during other than lighting 
 hours the voltage shall be maintained within ten percent of the stand¬ 
 ard. All other electric utilities shall maintain their voltage regulation 
 on all constant potential circuits during lighting hou,rs so that the 
 maximum voltage furnished any consumer shall not be more than six 
 percent above the minimum voltage at that consumer’s cut-out. 
 
 Rule 27. The city ordinance of 1913 fixing the maximum rates for 
 electricity furnished by the Commonwealth-Edison Company provides: 
 “The voltage on any of said Commonwealth-Edison Company’s distrib¬ 
 uting lines from which electricity for lighting purposes is furnished, 
 shall, as measured at the consumer’s service, not vary more than five 
 percent (5%) either above or below the normal voltage carried by the 
 circuit upon which the service is rendered; provided, however, that 
 variations due to accidents or local conditions over which said Company 
 has no immediate control, shall not be considered a violation of this 
 provision until said Company shall have had notice in writing from a 
 consumer affected and thirty (30) days’ time in which to correct such 
 conditions.” 
 
 That a rule demanding very close voltage regulation when applied to the 
 general case of distribution may work injustice both upon the operating 
 company and the public was set forth in an argument presented to the State 
 Commission at the time this rule was up for consideration. (See “Voltage 
 Regulation.”) 
 
 7 
 
PROPOSED ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE TEST, IN¬ 
 SPECTION, SEALING AND ADJUSTMENT OF 
 CONSUMERS’ ELECTRIC METERS. 
 
 Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Chicago that: 
 
 Section 1. The Duty of Commissioner of Public Service. Paragraph 1. It 
 shall be the duty of the Commissioner of Public Service to provide for the 
 test, inspection, sealing and adjustment of all meters as hereinafter defined, 
 used or to be used in the City of Chicago in accordance with the provisions 
 of this ordinance. 
 
 Section 2. Definition of Seller and Consumer’s Meter. Paragraph 1. The 
 term “seller” when used in this ordinance shall mean and include any cor¬ 
 poration, company, association, joint stock company or association, firm, part¬ 
 nership, managing committee or individual, their lessees, trustees or receiv¬ 
 ers appointed by any court whatsoever (except, however, such public utilities 
 as may now or hereafter be owned or operated by any municipality), that now 
 or hereafter may own, control, operate or manage within the City of Chicago, 
 directly or indirectly, any plant, equipment or property used or to be used 
 for or in connection with the production, storage, transmission for sale, deliv¬ 
 ery, or furnishing of electricity, within the City of Chicago. 
 
 Paragraph 2. The term “meter” when used in this ordinance, shall mean 
 and include each and every electrical device that is now, or that may here¬ 
 after be used for the purpose of measuring the electricity supplied to any 
 consumer thereof. 
 
 Section 3. Definitions of Tests. Paragraph 1. All consumers’ meters 
 hereafter installed shall be tested as hereinafter prescribed within ninety 
 (90) days after such installation. Such test shall be termed within the mean¬ 
 ing of this ordinance “Installation Test”. 
 
 Paragraph 2. All consumers’ meters shall be tested as hereinafter pre¬ 
 scribed at least once in every two years. Such test shall be termed within 
 the meaning of this ordinance “Periodic Test”. 
 
 Paragraph 3. Whenever any person shall make application to the Com¬ 
 missioner of Public Service for a test of any consumer’s meter, and shall pre¬ 
 sent the receipt hereinafter prescribed, such test as hereinafter prescribed 
 shall be made by the Commissioner of Public Service or his representative, and 
 shall be termed within the meaning of this ordinance “Complaint Test”. 
 
 Section 4. Application for Complaint Test. Paragraph 1. Any person 
 making application for complaint test shall deposit with the Collector of the 
 City of Chicago, the fee or fees hereinafter prescribed and he shall receive 
 from the said Collector of the City of Chicago, a receipt, which shall state the 
 amount of the fee or fees deposited, the name of the person making said ap¬ 
 plication, the name of the seller, the location of the said consumer’s meter, the 
 rating of the said consumer’s meter in amperes and the voltage of the con¬ 
 nected circuit. 
 
 Paragraph 2. All installation tests and all periodic tests shall be made by 
 the Commissioner of Public Service or his representatives, or by such person 
 or persons competent to make such tests, as the Commissioner of Public 
 Service shall, in writing, authorize. Such tests shall be made at the expense 
 of the seller and the said seller shall pay for all such tests made by the Com¬ 
 missioner of Public Service or his representative, to the Collector of the City 
 of Chicago, the fee or fees hereinafter prescribed. 
 
 Paragraph 3. The Commissioner of Public Service or his representative 
 may inspect, test or seal any consumer’s meter at all reasonable hours. 
 
 Section 5. Notification of Test. Paragraph 1. At least forty-eight (4S) 
 hours before the Commissioner of Public Service or his representative shall 
 make any complaint test of any consumer’s meter, the said Commissioner of 
 Public Service shall send a written notification of such test to both the con- 
 
 8 
 
sumer and the seller of electricity as stated in the receipt hereinbefore de¬ 
 scribed. Such notification shall state the time when and the place where 
 said test will be made. Any interested party or parties may be represented 
 at any test of any consumer’s meter. 
 
 Section 6. Sealing of Meters. Paragraph 1. Whenever any inspection, 
 test or adjustment of any consumer’s meter shall be made, the person or per¬ 
 sons making such inspection, test or adjustment, shall so place a seal upon 
 the said meter that the said meter cannot be changed, adjusted or opened in 
 any way without breaking the said seal. The said seal shall indicate the 
 month and the year when the said seal was placed on the said meter. No 
 person except with the written permission of the Commissioner of Public 
 Service shall remove, break, change or otherwise tamper with any consumer’s 
 meter bearing the seal of the said Commissioner of Public Service, or shali 
 remove, break, change or otherwise tamper with the said seal. 
 
 Section 7. Fees for Tests. Paragraph 1. The following shall be the fee 
 or fees charged by the Commissioner of Public Service for the making of any 
 test of consumers’ meters operating on circuits of GOO volts or less, to-wit: 
 
 Amperes, Rated Capacity. Fees. 
 
 10 or less .$ 1.50 
 
 Over 10 but not more than 15. 2.00 
 
 Over 15 but not more than 25. 2.50 
 
 And for each additional 25 amperes or fraction thereof. 0.50 
 
 The following shall be the additional fee or fees charged by the Commis¬ 
 sioner of Public Service for the making of any test of consumers’ meters op¬ 
 erating on circuits of more than 600 volts, to-wit: 
 
 Volts in Circuit. Fees. 
 
 Over 600 but not more than 2,000.$ 5.00 
 
 And for each additional 1,000 volts or fraction thereof. 2.00 
 
 Paragraph 2. The fee or fees for any complaint test shall be paid by the 
 seller when it is found that the meter of the said consumer is registering four 
 percent (4%) or more above the amount of electricity actually passing through 
 the same. 
 
 Section 8. Adjustment and Test of Meters. Paragraph 1. When any con¬ 
 sumer's meter is tested as in this section provided and is found inaccurate, 
 it shall be adjusted so as to register within one per cent (1%) any and all 
 amounts of electricity passing through the said meter when such amounts are 
 between ten percent (10%) of and one hundred percent (100%) of the rated 
 capacity of the said meter. During the adjustment the voltage shall at all 
 times be kept above ninety-five percent (95%) of the rated voltage of the said 
 meter. 
 
 Paragraph 2. Any meter which cannot be adjusted as hereinbefore pro¬ 
 vided or any meter which “creeps” or registers when no electricity is passing- 
 through the same, shali be removed from service within thirty (30) days after 
 notice thereof given by the Commissioner of Public Service, to the seller. 
 
 Paragraph 3. Meters shall be tested and their accuracy determined as 
 follows: 
 
 The voltage in the circuit shall at all times during the test be kept above 
 ninety-five percent (95%) of the rated voltage of the said meter. The first 
 test shall be made at between ten percent (10%) of and twenty percent (20%) 
 of the rated capacity of the said meter; and second test shall be made at 
 what shall hereinafter be prescribed as the normal load of the said meter; and 
 the third and last test shall be made at more than eighty percent (80%) of 
 and less than one hundred per cent (100%) of the rated capacity of the said 
 meter. The final test or tests shall be determined as follows: The result of 
 the second test shall be multiplied by three and to this shall be added th > 
 result of the first and third tests and the sum so obtained shall be divided by 
 five, giving the final result. 
 
 Paragraph 4. The normal load of a meter shall be determined in per¬ 
 centage of the rated capacity at the rated voltage by classification of the 
 service as follows, to-wit: 
 
 9 
 
Percentage of 
 
 Classification of Service. Rated Capacity. 
 
 Residence and apartment buildings. 25% 
 
 Elevator Service . 40% 
 
 Factories (individual drive), churches and offices. 45% 
 
 Factories (shaft drive), theatres, clubs, entrances, hallways and general 
 
 store lighting . G0% 
 
 Saloons, restaurants, pumps, air compressors, ice machinery and moving 
 
 picture machines . 70% 
 
 Signs, window lighting and blowers. 100% 
 
 Section 9. Standard Meters. Paragraph 1. There shall be maintained at 
 all times in the office of the Commissioner of Public Service standard instru¬ 
 ments for the measurement of electro-motive force and current, both alter¬ 
 nating and direct, which instruments shall be accurate to within one-tenth 
 (l./10th) of one (1%) percent when compared with the standards of the United 
 States Bureau of Standards and the Department of Public Service shall have 
 these instruments sealed and certified by the United States Bureau of Stand¬ 
 ards at least once in every six (6) months. The said instruments so main¬ 
 tained and kept shall be used as primary standards for the purpose of check¬ 
 ing the working standards used by said Commissioner of Public Service. 
 
 Section 10. Records and Reports. Paragraph 1. Any person or persons, 
 who shall under the provisions of this ordinance, make any test or adjustment 
 of any consumer’s meter, shall within thirty (30) days thereafter file with 
 the Commissioner of Public Service a record of such test or adjustment on 
 forms to be furnished by the said Commissioner of Public Service. 
 
 Paragraph 2. The Commissioner of Public Service shall keep a register 
 or registers in his office in the City Hall in which he shall record the number 
 and description of each consumer’s meter inspected or tested by him or his 
 representative and the time of such inspection or test and the condition of the 
 said consumer’s meter when inspected or tested. Such records shall be at 
 any reasonable time open to any citizen of the City of Chicago. 
 
 Paragraph 3. The Commissioner of Public Service, immediately after 
 the first of each month, shall prepare and submit to the City Comptroller a 
 report of the number of consumers’ meters tested during the previous calendar 
 month. 
 
 Section 11. Police Aid. Paragraph 1. Whenever it shall, in the opinion 
 of the Commissioner of Public Service or his representative, be necessary to 
 call upon the Department of Police for aid or assistance in carrying out or 
 enforcing any of the provisions of this ordinance, he shall have authority to 
 do so, and it shall be the duty of the said Department of Police or any member 
 thereof, when called upon by the said Commissioner of Public Service or his 
 representative, to act in accordance with the instructions of and to perform 
 such duties as may be required by him by legal measures to enforce or put 
 into effect the provisions of this ordinance. 
 
 Section 12. Penalty for Violations. Paragraph 1. Any person or persons, 
 firm, corporation, seller or consumer violating or refusing to comply with any 
 of the provisions of this ordinance shall be fined not less than Twenty-Five 
 ($25.00) Dollars nor more than One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars for each offense. 
 A separate and distinct offense shall be held to have been committed each 
 day any person, persons, firm, corporation, seller or consumer violates or 
 fails to comply with the provisions of this ordinance. 
 
 Section 13. Repeal of Previous Ordinance. Paragraph 1. Sections 838, 
 839, 840, 841, 842, 843, 844 and 845 of the Civil Code of 1911 be and the same 
 are hereby repealed. 
 
 Section 14. Ordinance Effective. Paragraph 1. This ordinance shall take 
 effect and be in force from and after its passage and publication. 
 
 RATES. 
 
 In 1912, Mr. Ray Palmer, Commissioner of Gas and Electricity, made a 
 thorough investigation of the Commonwealth Edison Company’s valuation 
 and rate schedules. The rates as recommended by Mr. Palmer and the changes 
 in the Commonwealth Edison Company’s rates thus brought about resulted in a 
 material decrease in rates to consumers of electricity and the consequent sav- 
 
 10 
 
ing to the citizens of many thousands of dollars. The fact that any system 
 of rates is adequate as a basis of charge only as long as applied with the 
 best of judgment and discretion was foreseen at this time, for we find that 
 Mr. Palmer recommended “that maximum demand meters be not installed in 
 future for retail light and power, except in cases where they appear necessary 
 for statistical purposes, but that maximum demand be determined from pres¬ 
 ent data and statistics revised from time to time as conditions demand.” 
 
 Rate schedules for the sale of electricity must be made for a class of 
 consumers, rather than the individual, and the basis of such rate should be 
 the average demands of the class. Assuming that the average is properly 
 determined, only those consumers whose demands fall at the average will 
 be paying for the service in the exact proportion to the cost to supply such 
 service. 
 
 That the rate schedules in force in Chicago may seem complicated is 
 due to the fact that they are designed to allow the consumers who use elec¬ 
 tricity economically to obtain a lower rate than a consumer who is extrav¬ 
 agant. The consumer who uses all his lights at one time and at the same 
 time that everyone else is using their lights is, in so far as the company is 
 concerned, not a profitable consumer. On the other hand the one who uses 
 only a small number of lights at any one time but burns these lights for a 
 great number of hours is a profitable consumer and should be granted a 
 lower rate. Apparatus such as electric irons are also profitable for the com¬ 
 pany. 
 
 It is easy enough to determine how many lights a consumer has been 
 using at one time during the month but to find out just when he used these 
 lights is not possible. Hence, from the standpoint of the consumer, economy 
 can be gained only by exercising care and using as few lamps as possible 
 at any one time. 
 
 An analysis of the “General Service” schedule of the Commonwealth Edi¬ 
 son Company as shown on the accompanying set of curves, illustrates the 
 probable effect on residence lighting bills of variation in the method of de¬ 
 termining the maximum demand. A complete analysis of the rate would 
 involve the making of a very great number of calculations. Only one case is 
 here treated. This case deals with the consumer having 1,500 watts connected 
 loads in lights and using an. electric iron. The lower curve shows the price 
 the consumer is supposed to pay for using an iron for two hours per month. 
 When the maximum demand is determined from a table, this cost ranges 
 from 10 cents down to 3 cents. It is, however, practically impossible for a 
 residence consumer having a maximum demand meter to obtain this rate. 
 
 Should there be installed maximum demand meters and if the service is 
 three wire, the cost rises to a range of 10 to 39 cents for two hours’ use 
 as shown by curve 3. Should the housewife desire to enjoy the sunshine or 
 the breeze and for this purpose remove her ironing to another part of the 
 house, if only for a few minutes, the meter bill may now show up 35 cents 
 larger than if she had stayed in the kitchen and 74 cents larger than if she 
 had used no iron at all. If the iron used be one consuming 600 watts instead 
 of 500, the latter figure will be increased to $1.28. If lights are turned on 
 when the iron is on, the bill will be further increased. 
 
 Some note of warning might be sounded but it is feared the housewife 
 would learn to fear the harmless electric iron. 
 
 One consumer who entered a complaint with the department has found 
 it to his interest to install Mazda lamps in place of the formerly used carbon 
 lamps. He will save enough in one month to more than pay for the new 
 lamps. Much good can be done for consumers by the establishment of a 
 source of information along these lines. The Electric Bureau is endeavoring 
 to so extend its field of usefulness. 
 
 11 
 
 ut or to. jb. 
 
COMPLAINTS. 
 
 No. 2,404. Condemned Wiring. Complainant wished to evade order of 
 Inspection Department. Referred to Department of Gas & Electricity for re¬ 
 inspection. Condemnation confirmed. 
 
 No. 2,432. Disputed Bills. Increase of consumption billed at high rate. 
 C. E. Co. asked for rating and amount of bills. Investigation showed that 
 consumer had connected load exceeding iy 2 k. w. and that company- had in¬ 
 stalled maximum demand meter. Bills were rendered correctly from the 
 demand meter readings. 
 
 No. 2,433. Abandoned Poles. Complainant desired to have old poles re¬ 
 moved from street. Notice was issued to the C. E. Co. to remove poles. PoLes 
 were removed. 
 
 No. 2,436. Meter Test. Application blank was furnished. Blank was not 
 returned and no test made. 
 
 No. 2,437. Service Extension. C. E. Co. apparently had refused service. 
 Referred to company. Extension was found to be delayed by necessity of ob¬ 
 taining private property permits for lines. 
 
 No. 2,438. Street Lighting. A lamp reported out of order and not burn¬ 
 ing. Referred to Department of Gas & .Electricity. 
 
 No. 2,439. Hall Lighting. Complainant stated that no hall lights were 
 maintained in an apartment building. Referred to Department of Health. 
 
 No. 2,440. Disputed Bill. Consumer desired a maximum demand meter in¬ 
 stalled in his residence on the grounds that the estimated maximum de¬ 
 mand was too high. Taken up with Public Service Co. of Nor. Ills, and C. E. 
 Co., the latter installing the maximum demand meter. 
 
 No. 2,441. Disputed Bill. Increase of consumption billed at high rate. 
 Referred to C. E. Co. for connected load. Investigation showed that company 
 had been billing less than the estimated maximum demand corresponding to 
 the connected load. 
 
 No. 2,442. Service Deposit. Company making charge of $15.00 to install 
 service in garage of consumer. Taken up with company with explanation 
 that the garage was located at another address. Company replied that charge 
 was made in error, thinking that garage was on same premises. 
 
 No. 2,443. Meter Test. Bills considered too high by consumer and ap¬ 
 plication blank furnished and meter tested. Found to be correct and explana¬ 
 tion of probable correctness of bills furnished consumer. 
 
 No. 2,444. Meter Test. Application blank furnished. Blank not returned 
 and no test made. 
 
 No. 2,445. Disputed Bills. Consumer had two service connections; one 
 being equipped with demand meters and the other not. Consumer objected 
 to company adding the maximum demands and billing on basis of the sum. 
 Referred to C. E. Co. on basis of separate contracts and asked for separate 
 bills. Investigation showed that the consumer had signed waiver of power 
 contract and company was justified in billing as had been ‘practised. Com¬ 
 pany ordered consumer to remove lights from power circuit and sign a power 
 contract. 
 
 No. 2,446. Meter Test. Consumers’ bills were increasing. Meter tested 
 and found to be 80% accurate and showed evidence of having been tampered 
 with. Windings of the consumers’ motor were found to be water soaked and 
 motor consumed full load current when running light. 
 
 No. 2,447. Rate Explanation. Consumer desired outline of method of de¬ 
 termining rates for lighting service. Information furnished. 
 
 No. 2,448. Meter Test. Application blank not returned. No test. 
 
 No. 2,449. Service Delay. Consumer stated that company was delaying 
 in furnishing service provided for. Taken up with company. They stated 
 service had been completed on the day previous. 
 
 No. 2,451. Disputed Bills. Complainant objected to bills on account of 
 high maximum demand indicated. Explained to consumer that bills appar¬ 
 ently were correct and suggested that the load turned on at any one time 
 be reduced. 
 
 13 
 
No. 2,452. Meter Test. Consumer objected to high bills and stated that 
 meter was being tampered with by the owner of the building who furnished 
 the current. Meter was tested and found to be 110.7% accurate and driv¬ 
 ing dog was missing from the register. 
 
 No. 2,453. Meter Test. Consumer complained of exorbitant bill. Meter 
 was tested and found to be 93.8% accurate and was recording energy passing 
 through a leak in the wiring. 
 
 No. 2,454. Meter Test. Consumer complained of exorbitant bill. Meter 
 was tested and found to be 102.5% accurate and was recording a heavy cur¬ 
 rent leakage in the wiring. 
 
 No. 2.455. Disputed Bills. Back bill for energy was rendered a consumer 
 by the C. E. Co. who stated that the bills rendered for the past 3y 2 years 
 were approximately 1/10th of correct bills, due to error in reading by the 
 company’s meter readers. An investigation showed that the bills paid by 
 the consumer were approximately 1/lOth of the consumer’s estimated con¬ 
 sumption. Explained the situation to the consumer and suggested that he 
 accept the company’s offer of compromising the bill. 
 
 No. 2,456. Disputed Bills. Consumer complained of high maximum de¬ 
 mand charged for on bills. Bills analyzed and method of determining max¬ 
 imum demand explained to consumer. 
 
 No. 2,457. Street Lighting. Consumer desired street lights to be placed 
 in vicinity of his residence. Referred to Dept, of Gas and Electricity. 
 
 No. 2,458. Rates. Lower rates desired for Calumet Park Commission. 
 Complainant requested us to furnish statement of the connected load. No 
 reply received and complaint still open for action. 
 
 No. 2,459. Service Extension. Petition for telephone and electric lighting 
 service made by. number of citizens. Investigation made and plats of the 
 vicinity referred to C. E. Co. and C. T. Co. Companies replied that the cost 
 of extension was not justified by the returns. 
 
 No. 2,460. Service Refused. Complainant stated that company refused 
 service account of unpaid bills rendered to her mother. Upon investigation 
 by the department the consumer stated that the company had agreed to 
 furnish service. 
 
 No. 2,461. Disputed Bills. A consumer refused to pay electric bills on 
 the grounds that other circuits besides his own were connected to the meter. 
 The company discontinued the service of the consumer on account of the 
 unpaid bills. The department .investigated conditions and found that the 
 other circuits had been removed from the meter in the meantime by the 
 company. The C. E. Co. was asked to compromise the bill. The bill was 
 compromised for $1.00 and the consumer’s service again connected. 
 
 No. 2,462. Meter Wiring. Consumer stated that meter had been incor¬ 
 rectly connected. Investigation by the department indicated that meter was 
 connected correctly. 
 
 No. 2,463. Service Extension. Deposit requested by C. E. Co. for exten¬ 
 sion of lines to furnish service. Plat of vicinity made and referred to C. E. 
 Co. Company refused to furnish service without deposit for an extension. 
 
 No. 2,464. Service Extension. (Same as No. 2,463.) 
 
 No. 2,465. Construction Charge. C. E. Co. lines were transferred from 
 street to alley.. Consumer objected to charge of C. E. Co. for removing in¬ 
 terior service connection to rear of residence. Investigated by this depart¬ 
 ment and explanation given consumer that the C. E. Co. were not required 
 to make changes on interior wiring to accommodate service entrance. 
 
 No. 2,466. Service Discontinuation. C. E. Co. notified consumer that 
 service would be discontinued unless bills of predecessor were paid. Investi¬ 
 gation by this department showed that company had not rendered bills to 
 the previous consumer. Company was asked to render the bills to the pred¬ 
 ecessor who promptly paid them and relieved the inconvenience of the com¬ 
 plainant. 
 
 No. 2,467. Inspection Charges. Complainant objected to reinspection 
 charges made by Inspection Bureau of the Dept, of Gas and Electricity. Expla¬ 
 nation settled complaint. 
 
 No. 2,468. Meter Test. Consumer objected to high bills. Meter tested and 
 found correct. 
 
 No. 2,469. Disputed Bills and Meter Test. Consumer objected to bills for 
 electric service, stating that no current had been used. Bills were investi* 
 
 14 
 
gated and found to agree with estimates of current consumption based on 
 weather bureau reports of sunshine and cloud records. Meter was tested 
 and found accurate. 
 
 No. 2,470. Disputed Bills. Consumer objected to high maximum demand. 
 Bills were analyzed and found to be apparently correct. 
 
 No. 2,471. Guarantee for Bills. Consumer objected to making guarantee 
 deposit for bills at time of application for service. Referred to company who 
 stated that deposit would not be required if consumer furnished references. 
 Consumer notified. 
 
 No. 2,472. Disputed Bills. Consumer complained of high bills, stating 
 that his consumption had been much less. An estimate of the consumption 
 by this department was found to agree with the bill rendered. Explanation 
 accepted. 
 
 No. 2,473. Payment Facilities. Complainant desired information for lo¬ 
 cation of offices for payment of electric bills. Referred to company who 
 stated that a list of such offices is printed on the reverse side of each bill 
 and named several stations in the vicinity of the complainant’s address. Re¬ 
 ply of company forwarded to consumer. 
 
 No. 2,474. Current Theft. Consumer stated that another occupant of 
 building had installed lights and had connected the circuit to the meter of 
 the complainant. Investigation by the department found the circuit on the 
 proper meter. 
 
 No. 2,475. Service Refused. Complainant stated over telephone that serv* 
 ice was refused at complainant’s address but withheld own name. Investiga¬ 
 tion by this department showed that the building was receiving service. 
 
 No. 2,476. Subway Lighting. The complainant objected to unlighted sub¬ 
 ways in the vicinity of his residence and desired information as to when 
 such lighting would be completed. Referred to Dept, of Gas and Electricity 
 and information forwarded to complainant. 
 
 No. 2,477. Disputed Bills. Consumer complained of high maximum de¬ 
 mand on bills rendered. Bills were analyzed by the department and the 
 consumer advised to reduce his connected load by change of lamps and apply 
 for removal of maximum demand meter. 
 
 No. 2,478. Overhead Wires. Petition by property owners to have over¬ 
 head wires placed underground in an alley about to be paved. Referred to 
 Dept, of Public Works. 
 
 No. 2,479. Service Extension. Deposit required by C. E. Co. for line ex¬ 
 tension to supply service. Investigated and referred to C. E. Co. with plat 
 of vicinity. C. E. Co. refused to make extension without deposit. 
 
 No. 2,480. Meter Test. Consumer complained of high bills. Meter tested 
 and found 92.3% accurate. Advised consumer to reduce consumption by 
 substitution of Tungsten lamps for carbon lamps. 
 
 No. 2,481. Service Extension. (Same as No. 2,479.) 
 
 No. 2,482. Street Lighting. Street lamp out of order and not burning. 
 Referred to Dept, of Gas and Electricity. 
 
 No. 2,483. Service Extension. C. E. Co. required deposit for extension 
 of line to furnish service. Investigated and plat of vicinity referred to C. E. 
 Co. with explanation that line extension was unnecessary. C. E. Co. agreed 
 to install service as suggested without deposit. 
 
 No. 2,484. Service Delay. Service connection was delayed in the routine 
 of C. E. Co. Company notified of delay and service was installed same day. 
 
 No. 2,485. Service Refused. C. E. Co. refused service to applicant until 
 wiring had been put into serviceable condition. Consumer did not wish to 
 comply with request of the company. Investigation made by the department 
 and consumer advised to comply. 
 
 No. 2,486. Street Lighting. Consumer objected to arc lamp in front of 
 residence shining into bedroom and desired to have shade placed on lamp. 
 Referred to Dept, of G. & E., who replied that shade would not be installed. 
 
 No. 2,487. Discontinuation of Service. Consumer had two contracts. One 
 for interior lighting and one for street lamp post. Desired to discontinue 
 the latter but C. E. Co. stated that service under the interior lighting contract 
 would be discontinued unless payments were continued under the street lamp 
 contract. Referred to Corporation Counsel. 
 
 No. 2,488. Service Failure. Complainant stated that his electric lighting 
 service failed at various times. The fault could not be located by C. E. Co. 
 
 15 
 
Investigation by this department showed that a defective link fuse and loose 
 connection caused the trouble. Above defects* remedied. 
 
 No. 2,489. Street Lighting. Complainant desired to have shades removed 
 from street lamps. Referred to Dept, of G. & E., who replied that shades 
 would be removed. 
 
 No. 2,490. Service Extension. C. E. Co. required a deposit for line exten¬ 
 sion to furnish service. Investigated and referred to C. E. Co., who refused 
 service connection without deposit. This department referred to C. E. Co. a 
 written promise to the consumer to install service and company agreed to 
 install same. 
 
 No. 2,491. Disputed Bills. Consumer complained of high bills, stating 
 that his consumption had not been equal to the minimum charge. Investi¬ 
 gation by this department showed that the consumption was less than the 
 minimum charge and the company was asked to rectify the bills. In reply 
 the company stated that error had been made and rectified bills were issued 
 to consumer. 
 
 No. 2,492. Meter Test. Complainant objected to high bills. Meter tested 
 and found 101.7% accurate. 
 
 No. 2,493. Rates. Consumer objected to paying full rate for service when 
 entitled to municipal rate. Negotiations pending. 
 
 No. 2,494. Condemned Wiring. Complainant desired to have wiring in¬ 
 spected by this department. Investigation was made and condemnation found 
 to be justifiable. 
 
 No. 2,495. Service Delay. Consumer complained that C. E. Co. was delay¬ 
 ing in supplying service. Investigation showed that no application had been 
 filed by the consumer for service. Consumer notified to file application. 
 
 No. 2,496. Service Extension. Deposit required for line extension. Under 
 investigation. 
 
 No. 2,497. Same as No. 2,496. 
 
 No. 2,498. Street Lighting Pole. Complainant stated that basement was 
 flooded due to setting an electric street lamp pole on curb. Investigation 
 showed that basement was flooded as a result of stopped up sewer. Re¬ 
 ferred to Dept, of Public Works. 
 
 No. 2,499. Service Extension. (Same as No. 2,496.) 
 
 No, 24,100. Lamp Renewal. Consumer stated that C. E. Co. would not 
 furnish lamp renewals. Investigation showed that the company had in their 
 possession a signed receipt for lamps delivered to complainant’s address. 
 Company delivered another set of lamps for renewal. 
 
 No. 24,101. Service Delay. Complainant stated that four weeks had elapsed 
 since filing application for service. Desired to have service as soon as 
 possible. Referred to Dept. G. & E. for inspection certificate and taken up 
 with C. E. Co. Company installed service on the following day. 
 
 No. 24,102. Service Entrance. Contractor wished information on installing 
 service to building not accessible to a service drop from C. E. Co. lines in 
 alley. Informed that service conduit to obtain service would not be installed 
 by C. E. Co. 
 
 No. 24,103. Service Increase. Complainant objected to deposit required 
 by C. E. Co. for reinforcing of lines necessary to supply desired increase of 
 load. Taken up with company who agreed to increase capacity of the service 
 without charge. 
 
 No. 24,104. Service Extension. Deposit required for line extension to sup¬ 
 ply service. Under investigation. 
 
 No. 24,105. Service Refused. Complainant states that C. E. Co. has re¬ 
 fused to supply service to his residence. Under investigation. 
 
 ELECTRIC SERVICE INSPECTION. 
 
 An investigation is being made by the Electric Bureau for the purpose of 
 discovering the conditions under which electricity is bought and sold in Chi¬ 
 cago. The areas covered up to the present time have been selected as in¬ 
 cluding representative classes of business. 
 
 Those consumers who deal directly with and pay their bills to the Com¬ 
 monwealth Edison Company comprise 81 percent of the total. Such irregu¬ 
 larities as have been found in metering or charges were adjusted by the com¬ 
 pany when brought to their attention. 
 
 16 
 
It is found that about three percent of consumers are furnished by iso¬ 
 lated plants, about one-half of whom are also owners. A considerable num¬ 
 ber of such consumers receive service from these plants without meters. 
 
 The class of consumers, about sixteen percent of the total, who are fur¬ 
 nished by jobbers or middlemen, present an interesting problem. Land¬ 
 lords, agents or others supplying electricity to the tenants of buildings under 
 a variety of terms of sale buy electricity from the Commonwealth Edison 
 Company through a master meter and retail the same either through meters 
 or by some other method of determination of the amount used. By reason 
 of his position, the tenant is unable to deal direct with the company supply¬ 
 ing the electricity. Rates vary from 3 cents to 15 cents per k.w.h., while the 
 flat rates vary from $2.00 per month up. In numerous instances, no infor¬ 
 mation could be obtained as to rates, such rates including those where the 
 tenant or consumer did not know his rate. 
 
 It seems to be customary in this class for the landlord to include the 
 electric light bill in the rent. This gives the tenant no idea as to what he 
 pays for current alone and does give the landlord an opportunity to make 
 a profit on the sale of electricity. He, of course, knows the cost to himself 
 wholesale and how much of his tenants’ rent is chargeable to electricity. 
 Where the highest rate is charged, the consumer is in ignorance of the rates 
 provided by ordinance and the agent has often taken advantage of his 
 ignorance. 
 
 Where the lowest rate, that of 3 cents, occurred, is a noteworthy case. 
 An owner of a building, used for stores and manufacturing, purchases elec¬ 
 tricity for the entire building on a wholesale rate which has varied accord¬ 
 ing to the information furnished by the agent, from 3 cents to 5 cents per 
 k.w.h. Each tenant has an individual meter, which he owns personally, and 
 the owner in his own plant in the building also has an individual meter for 
 the plant. The elevator service is also metered by an individual meter. To 
 determine the amount to be paid to the landlord by each tenant for elec¬ 
 tricity, the following is observed: from the total consumption shown by the 
 master meter is subtracted the consumption shown by the elevator service 
 meter. The remainder is divided pro rata among the tenants as shown by 
 the consumption indicated by their separate meters. They then pay the 
 landlord for their pro rata consumption at the rate that he has paid to the 
 Commonwealth Edison Company. The more tenants in the building and the 
 greater their consumption, the lower the rate. Both light and power are 
 taken through the same master meter. No charge is made to tenants for 
 the elevator service except that it may be accounted for as part of the 
 rent. The tenants here are benefited by a much lower rate for electricity 
 than other consumers of the same size and class. 
 
 Flat rates are in general established arbitrarily by the jobber without any 
 reference to any established rating and may be to the advantage of the con¬ 
 sumer on dark days and to his disadvantage on light days. In one instance 
 where a landlord is furnishing light to 32 tenants, the rate, as nearly as could 
 be estimated to the tenants paying for electricity with their rent, was 7 cents 
 net per k.w.h., to two tenants $2.00 flat per month; and to one other tenant 
 a rate of 11 cents, 6 cents and 5 cents with 1 .cent discount. This landlord 
 is a heavy consumer, his lowest rate being as low as 1.1 cents per k.w.h. He 
 not only makes a large profit on his sales of electricity, but his consumers 
 help him to get a lower average wholesale rate due to an increased consump¬ 
 tion. 
 
 In a few cases the tenants informed the inspector that they paid an amount 
 fixed each month by the landlord, but as to how this amount was arrived at 
 was not known to them. 
 
 About fifty percent of the consumers stated that their meters were to 
 their knowledge tested recently and about fourteen percent stated that their 
 meters were to their knowledge never tested. Approximately twenty-two 
 percent stated that they did not know whether their meters were ever tested 
 or not. The remaining fourteen percent never have their meters tested and 
 there is no provision made for testing. This class is composed of those con¬ 
 sumers who buy from individual plants or jobbers. 
 
 Their lack of knowledge of exact conditions governing the use and pur¬ 
 chase of electricity and the wide variation in the rates indicates the neces- 
 
 17 
 
sity for supervision over the service and the value of a well maintained system 
 of meter inspection. 
 
 The vast majority of the consumers were ignorant of the fact that they 
 could have recourse to the department in case of disputes or complaints re* 
 garding tlieir electric service, and the wide variations in the rates at which 
 electricity is sold has given this Bureau an opportunity to render valuable serv¬ 
 ice to the public. 
 
 VOLTAGE REGULATION. 
 
 The factors which affect voltage variation are so numerous and of such 
 nature as to render any general rule, placing specific limitations upon such 
 voltage variation, regulation or fluctuation, inoperative in a great many, if 
 not in the majority of cases. The question which arises is whether it wouid 
 not be preferable to deal with quality of service in the same manner in 
 which regulating bodies deal with rates, rather than to adopt a general rule 
 which must be ignored or excepted in the cases as above cited. 
 
 The demand for close voltage regulation has arisen chiefly from the use 
 of the incandescent electric lamp. The tendency with manufacturers has 
 been to produce a lamp using less energy per unit of light and also less sub¬ 
 ject to variation with a decrease or increase in voltage. 
 
 Table showing effect of voltage variation on the operation of incandescent 
 lamps. 
 
 
 (All values 
 
 in per cent.) 
 
 
 Voltage. 
 
 Type. 
 
 Candle Power. 
 
 Life. 
 
 
 Carbon 
 
 75.0 
 
 270 
 
 95% 
 
 Metalized 
 
 77.4 
 
 253 
 
 
 Mazda 
 
 83.4 
 
 185 
 
 
 Carbon 
 
 85.0 
 
 175 
 
 97% 
 
 Metalized 
 
 86.0 
 
 173 
 
 
 Mazda 
 
 90.0 
 
 145 
 
 
 Carbon 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 100% 
 
 Metalized 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 
 Mazda 
 
 100 
 
 100 
 
 
 Carbon 
 
 118.0 
 
 48 
 
 103% 
 
 Metalized 
 
 114.0 
 
 62 
 
 
 Mazda 
 
 110.0 
 
 65 
 
 
 Carbon 
 
 131.0 
 
 34 
 
 105% 
 
 Metalized 
 
 125.0 
 
 44 
 
 
 Mazda 
 
 118.0 
 
 50 
 
 The failure to 
 
 maintain a voltage 
 
 regulation within certain 
 
 limits mr 
 
 result in two sources of complaint of service. One due to a temporary de¬ 
 crease in voltage caused by the connection of heavy motors to the line or to 
 the application of otherwise heavy load and having its effect before such motor 
 has been started or before the feeder regulators have had time to operate. 
 This produces an annoyance to the user of light in the way of a decreased 
 illumination which lasts for .only a few moments but which becomes in¬ 
 creasingly annoying with its frequency of occurrence. The second source of 
 complaint may be due to a decrease in illumination to the point when it is 
 insufficient for the purpose for which it is used. 
 
 Any rule regarding voltage regulation would need to consider both condi¬ 
 tions and it would seem desirable to specify the limit of time over which the 
 maximum variation should last. To remedy the first mentioned condition 
 would necessitate that the limiting clause include instantaneous variations. 
 This would produce a condition of service which would not be demanded in 
 certain localities due to the expense involved. 
 
 The demands for constant voltage is a demand for a steady and sufficient 
 light and satisfactory operation of electrical apparatus. 
 
 The limits of satisfactory illumination for any given operation are widely 
 separated, varying from 100% to 500%. To obtain a proper illumination un¬ 
 der conditions of voltage variations it is only necessary to allow the proper 
 amount in excess of the lower limit or that which is considered proper. The 
 difference in illumination between 95% and 97% of normal voltage is 7%. 
 
 18 
 
To raise the general requirement from 5% to 3% variation from standard 
 would thus insure a 7% increased illumination from a given lighting installation 
 of Mazda lamps. The same result can he obtained by allowing a 7% increase in 
 the original installation or by increasing the size of existing lamps. The 
 power cost need not be increased over 7%. To obtain an equivalent result 
 by closer regulation (3%) would in many cases require an expenditure far 
 in excess of this amount. This may be appreciated by considering the fact 
 that power which can be generated for less than 1c per kilowatt hour must 
 be sold for from 3 to 10 cents in order to provide the return which various 
 regulating bodies have seen fit to grant. 
 
 The carbon lamp due to its high cost of operation should be considered 
 as an obsolete type. 
 
 The various factors which are of prime importance in the design of elec¬ 
 tric transmission and distribution systems are largely ones of economic im¬ 
 portance. The line losses, and therefore, to a corresponding extent, the line 
 drop in pressure are governed by balancing the value of the saving of the 
 energy lost in the line against the increased capital charges necessary to 
 raise the voltage or to provide heavier copper. 
 
 In current practice for any but metropolitan districts, distribution circuits 
 are designed for an 8 to 10 per cent loss and secondaries or services for a 
 2% loss. When there is added to this a 1% drop in the transformer in case 
 of alternating current systems, we have under most favorable conditions 
 (lighting load) a drop of from 11 to 13 per cent at the most economical load 
 for the line. Under extreme conditions of load this drop will increase from 
 10 to 50 per cent (depending upon the load factor of the feeder), causing a 
 maximum drop of from 12 to 20 per cent in the distribution system. The 
 voltage fluctuation here produced would be of the same magnitude. 
 
 This voltage variation is met in practice by the installation of boosters 
 or regulators on the feeders for the purpose of maintaining the voltage con¬ 
 stant at some point near the center of load. Applied to the tree system of 
 distribution, which is in use in many cities of from 10,000 to 20,000, the varia¬ 
 tion on the longer branches will yet exceed 50% of the above range of varia¬ 
 tion. Thus there is a variation of from 6 to 10 per cent on lighting circuits 
 designed and operated on what is judged by competent engineers to be about 
 the limit of economy, except where the load is very heavy. 
 
 That the demands of a 3% regulation can be met without unwarranted 
 capital charges in dense metropolitan districts there may be no question, 
 but to require less than a 5% regulation as applying to the entire service of 
 a larger system is to call for the installation of numerous substations for 
 transformation and control, and an enormous investment in copper. 
 
 In the smaller towns where service at reasonable rates can be supplied 
 only by installing an outdoor substation, fed from a nearby transmission line 
 and operating same without constant attendance, the problem of maintain¬ 
 ing a service resolves itself into one of furnishing electricity at a rate at 
 which the people can afford to use it, i. e., that of supplying something which 
 is infinitely superior to what the community may have even though the regu¬ 
 lation may not be good. 
 
 The production of an ever decreasing voltage variation can be made only 
 at an ever increasing operating cost for attendance, and an increased invest¬ 
 ment, and therefore, an increasing capital charge. 
 
 It cannot be doubted that the reduction of the allowable voltage fluctuation 
 to 3%, above or below a standard value, would necessitate the expenditure 
 of large sums of money for equipment in many of the larger cities of the 
 state. It is not to be supposed that capital would be reluctant to finance such 
 necessary expenditures. Public utility securities have in general been put 
 upon a firmer basis where adequate regulation exists and are considered safe 
 for investment purposes. Any expenditure in plant or distribution which 
 tends to improve the quality of service at no increased rate, or which tends to 
 reduce the rate without impairment of quality can easily be justified. But if 
 a rule is adopted requiring a regulation not demanded by the service, which 
 adds to equipment and operating cost, its necessity or justice should be ques¬ 
 tioned. In future valuations for the purpose of regulating or fixing of rates 
 these expenditures must be taken into consideration; not only for the in¬ 
 creased cost of equipment, but in many cases for the replacement of equip¬ 
 ment. Utility companies might be able to use the rule as a means of unduly 
 
 19 
 
increasing capital charges and the rates to all would be raised for the benefit 
 of the few who desire very close voltage regulation. 
 
 Should a rule be adopted limiting the allowable voltage variation to a 
 specific value for all cases, one of three actions must result as follows: 
 
 1. The companies must comply with the rule. 
 
 2. The rule must be waived. 
 
 3. The Commission must overlook non-compliance with the rule. 
 
 Should the companies comply with the rule the managements of the conn 
 
 panies are likely to remember, when charges for extravagance are brought 
 against them, the unwise expenditures of money in an effort to produce, un¬ 
 der Commission orders, a class and condition of service not demanded by the 
 consumers. 
 
 Should it be found advisable to waive the rule a hearing must be granted 
 to each case before any action can be taken. This would result in a larger 
 number of cases coming before the Commission than would be the case if 
 only just complaints of inadequate service were presented for hearing. 
 
 If the rule is overlooked by the Commission, it would become a target for 
 persons wishing to make political capital by filing, with the Commission, com¬ 
 plaints for minor violations. 
 
 After careful consideration by the Department of Public Service it is 
 thought that the quality of service is a factor affecting rates to such an ex¬ 
 tent that it should be so treated by the Commission. This would eliminate 
 the possibility of fixing any value for allowable voltage variation applicable 
 to the general case. 
 
 20