[U.-1591] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT SYSTEM OF STOUGHTON FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE ITS RATES TO RURAL CONSUMERS OWNING AND OPERATING THEIR OWN LINES Decided December 31, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION A decision in this matter was rendered November 1, 1919, and the order provided, among other charges, a demand rate of $1 per kilowatt of transformer capacity connected to the rural lines. It has developed that the rural-line companies prefer the measuring of the demand by a demand meter rather than its estimate from the transformer capacity. The rural companies are willing to pay for the cost of, and the installation of, a demand meter at the same location provided for the master meter in the previous decision, and that the demand used for billing shall be the average of the maximum 15-minute demand occurring between October 1 and April 30 of each year. The rate shall be that determined by our computations in the previous decision, or $1.20 per kilowatt. The demand created by any farm apparatus requiring portable transformers shall not be considered in determining the demand charge, providing due notice of its operation is given to the city's electrical superintendent and it is operated only between the hours to be specified by the superintendent. ORDER accordingly. [U.-1600] IN RE INVESTIGATION, ON MOTION OF THE COMMISSION, OF THE ALLEGED REFUSAL OF THE SUPERIOR RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY TO EXTEND SERVICE TO F. O. JOHNSON Decided December 31, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Complainant, F. O. Johnson, alleges that respondent, Superior Rural Telephone Company, which operates lines for local service near his residence, refuses to extend service to him. Respondent is a small corporation organized to build rural lines for parties who become stockholders and users of the service. The company's lines extend to the switchboard of the People's Telephone Company in Superior, where the switching service is performed. While the expense of extending service to complainant would be small, respondent has been reluctant in the matter for the reason that if this extension were made, 12 or more other parties would request the same service, and its financial condition makes impossible the expenditure of any substantial amount of money. However, since complainant's residence is but 200 feet from respondent's line, service should be extended to him. ORDER accordingly. [U.-1602] IN RE INVESTIGATION, ON MOTION OF THE COMMISSION, OF THE ALLEGED REFUSAL BY THE SUPERIOR RURAL TELEPHONE COMPANY TO EXTEND SERVICE TO WILLIAM P. WALSH ET AL. Decided December 31, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Complainants allege that respondent, Superior Rural Telephone Company, refuses to extend telephone service to them, although it operates in the vicinity of complainants' residences in the town of Parkland, Douglas county. Respondent is a small corporation organized to build rural lines for parties who became stockholders and users of the service. Lines were built extending the switchboard of the People's Telephone Company in the city of Superior, where switching service is furnished. The total investment of the rural company appears to be in the neighborhood of $2,000, and it has no other assets and no means of financing any extensive improvements. The cost of extending service to complainants is estimated at about $1,200, which respondent is unable to secure. Although the company is a public utility, it cannot be ordered to make the extensions requested under existing conditions. Complaint dismissed. [U.-1788] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE CADOTT BOYD TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES Decided December 31, 1919 MEMORANDUM OF DECISION Applicant, Cadott-Boyd Telephone Company, seeks to increase its present rates, which are $1 and $1.50 per month. The proposed net monthly rates are as follows: Business single lines, $2.50; 2-party lines, $2. Residence single lines, $1.75; 2-party lines, $1.50; 4-party lines, $1.25. Rural lines, $1.50. In each case a penalty of 10 per cent will be added for delinquent payments. Service Improvements. Applicant is a new corporation which acquired this utility on account of unsatisfactory service conditions. The stockholders consist of a large number of subscribers. The property was purchased for about $13,000, which was based on an appraisal made by the Commission. Since applicant has taken possession, $5,500 has been spent for improvements, betterments and replacements, applicant planning and desiring to furnish the two communities with high-grade service. Operating Expenses. Due to the changed conditions the reports of the former owner are of little help in determining reasonable rates. The minimum-wage order will increase the operating expenses very materially, particularly since two exchanges are being operated. During November operating expenses for the two exchanges, including only wages paid to operators, manager and lineman, and fuel, lights, and heat, were at the rate of $6,216 per year. Proposed Rates. With the present distribution of subscribers the proposed rates will produce approximately $7,000 a year in addition to long-distance and toll charges of $200 or $300, which would leave about $1,200 or $1,300 for taxes, depreciation, and return. This is a reasonable amount. Application granted, the ORDER also providing that toll charges formerly made to subscribers on messages between Boyd and Cadott and between local subscribers in Cadott and Boyd to rural subscribers be eliminated, but that a uniform rate of 10 cents be charged on messages for non-subscribers. [U.-1693] IN RE APPLICATION OF THE WESTFIELD FARMERS TELEPHONE COMPANY FOR AUTHORITY TO INCREASE RATES Submitted October 2, 1919. Decided December 31, 1919 Increase in telephone rates granted, the ORDER authorizing rates for business service, $1.65 per month; for residence service, $1.30 per month; for rural service, $3.25 per quarter; gross rates in each case being 25 cents per month additional; and a deduction of 15 cents per month to be made to subscribers owning their own instruments. 1. Telephone Rates-Differentials Subscribers Furnishing Facilities While rate differentials to subscribers who furnish a part of the facilities is expressly prohibited by the Public Utilities Law, Section 1797m-90, Wisconsin Statutes, a subscriber who owns his own instrument may lease it to the company at a reasonable rental. 2. Telephone Rates-Stockholders and Non-stockholders Differentials in telephone rates between stockholders and non-stockholders are disapproved. 3. Telephone Utilities-Maintenance by Individual Subscribers An arrangement whereby subscribers furnish their own batteries and maintain their own telephones and a part of the lines, results in poor service, and should not be allowed. Application was made September 9, 1919, by the Westfield Farmers Telephone Company for authority to increase its rates. In its petition, the Westfield company represents that its principal place of business is in Westfield, and that it is a public utility engaged in the management and operation of a telephone system with exchanges at Westfield, Grand Marsh, and Harrisville, and that the lawful rates now in effect are as follows: For all those who own stock, furnish their own phones and batteries, and jointly maintain the lines and operate the same, and are responsible for the company's liabilities, For all renters who furnish nothing and are not responsible for any of the company's liabilities, Penalty for stockholders, delinquent, 25 cents per month The Westfield Farmers Telephone Company states that it applies for authority to increase its rates for the following reasons: That the Federal authorities reduced its toll rates and abolished other specific charges; that there has been an incalculable increase in the cost of all poles, wires, batteries, cross-arms, pins, instruments, and tools; that the cost of operators, linemen, and electricians has increased, as has also the use of teams and automobiles; that it is impossible to maintain and give reasonably efficient service without funds or income to cover the costs; that the company never had or planned to pay a dividend but to mutually sustain the service for stockholders and renters, and that the stockholders at a meeting called for that purpose voted to increase their assessments 33% per cent, and to apply for an increase of 30 per cent in rentals, and 33% per cent as a special assessment on the stock. Application is therefore made to put in effect the following schedule: For all stockholders supplying their own phones, jointly maintaining and operating the lines, and assuming responsibility for liabilities of company, |