USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Town of Reading Massachusetts annual report 1925 > Part 13
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17.50
$ 1,264.26
Repairs:
Buildings-Furniture-Grounds
Allen Shade Holder Co.
171.98
American Type Founders Co.
6.98
O. W. Austin
2.25
Edw. E. Babb & Co.
107.55
Wendell Bancroft Co.
31,28
Bangs Fixture Co.
6.80
Boston Metal Ceiling Co.
345.00
Boston Sculpture Co.
17.00
M. M. Carter
31.50
Clapp & Leach
223.54
Leonard Clarkson
6.60
F. M. Crosby
27.75
E. B. Currell & Son
98.74
Mathew Devaney
188.00
Hugh L. Eames
5.00
Edgerley & Bessom
2.00
T. C. Fife
632.82
Francis Brothers 6.00
The Fyr Fyter Co.
106.92
Edward P. Garbati
75.00
C. A. Gates & Co.
376.00
F. G. Hall
2.80
J. L. Hammett Co.
830.94
179
Heywood-Wakefield Co. 14.70
The Hodge Boiler Works
416.01
Hodson Brothers 711.85
The Kardex Co. 388.37
B. J. Leathers
14.75
R. W. LeBaron
15.00
George W. Marshall
28.83
J. M. Maxwell, Jr., & Son
338.46
D. O. Miller & Co. 287.58
Municipal Light Board
758.99
J. A. Murphy
12.35
John Muse
34.50
New England Sales Co.
25.73
Nightingale & Childs
583.69
Dana F. Perkins
91.00
Harvey Quigley
511.35
Reading Custom Laundry
5.85
Reading Greenhouses & Nurseries
70.50
Reading High School Lunch
15.00
Reformatory for Women
75.79
Royal Laundry Service
.75
Royal Typewriter Co.
10.85
P. J. Seaman
2.50
Fred F. Smith
62.50
The Standard Electric Time Co.
27.19
H. G. Stewart & Co.
2,401.50
Percy N. Sweetser
167.15
O. P. Symonds & Sons
2.40
Wales Adding Machine Co.
11.46
Wrought Iron Range Co.
8.91
Zanni & Co.
17.00
$ 10,413.96
AGRICULTURAL ACCOUNT
Books and Supplies:
American Book Co. $ 1.58
Allen Shade Holder Co. 11.24
Edward E. Babb & Co.
8.33
Wendall Bancroft Co. 2.50
Milton Bradley Co.
7.33
The Century Co.
4.98
M. F. Charles
.15
De Wolfe & Fiske Co.
16.00
180
7
Oliver Ditson Co.
7.56
J. L. Hammett Co.
5.68
Harper & Brothers
2.22
D. C. Heath & Co.
3.29
Hodson Brothers
6.23
Houghton, Mifflin Co. .93
The Keystone View Co.
4.66
The Lincoln School-Teachers College .35
H. B. McArdle 5.00
The Macmillan Co.
24,18
Market Growers Journal
1.50
Mass. Agric. College
9.00
H. M. Meserve & Co.
1.70
D. O. Miller Co.
1.65
Modern Poultry Breeder
3.75
The Potter Press
1.6
Reliable Poultry Journ. Pub. Co.
2.00
Sanford Mills
1.43
Fred F. Smith
22.95
The Tablet & Ticket Co.
7.99
W. E. & J. F. Twombly
15.00
Waldo Brothers & Bond Co.
2.00
F. Wallace
2.60
A. W. Wiley
43.10
Williams Book Store
2.00
$ 230.48
INDUSTRIAL TUITION ACCOUNT
Tuition Paid :
City of Boston $ 517.87
City of Somerville
46.15
Wakefield School Dept.
21.75
$
585.77
Thirty-first Annual Report
OF THE
Electric Light Commissioners For the Year Ending December 31 1925
182
OFFICERS OF THE ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER DEPARTMENT
Commissioners
WILLIAM G. LONG, Chairman Resigned Dec. 31, 1925
HENRY R. JOHNSON, Chairman Term expires 1926
HERBERT G. EVANS, Secretary Term expires 1927
HARRY P. BAKER
Term expires 1928
Manager ARTHUR G. SIAS
Office
MUNICIPAL BUILDING
183
MANAGER'S REPORT
To the Municipal Light Board :- Gentlemen :
I respectfully submit herewith my report of the operations of the Municipal Light Plant for the year ending December 31, 1925.
Electric Operating Revenues
Metered Sales to Private Consumers:
Lighting
$103,285.92
Power
34,008.76
Cooking and Heating
19,367.32
$156,662.00
Flat Rate Sales to Private Consumers :
Private Street Lights
540.75
Municipal Revenues :
Street Lighting-Reading
$ 11,000.00
Street Lighting-Lynnfield Centre 1,763.65
Street Lighting-North Reading
3,766.40
Street Lighting-Wilmington
7,544.30
Municipal Lighting-Reading
1,614.67
Municipal Power-Reading
2,436.86
Power sold to Wakefield
42.12
Power sold to Lowell Elect. Lt. Corp.
121.97
$ 28,289.97
Total Revenue from Sales of Electric Energy
$185,492.72
Rent from Property Used in Operation :
Rental of Pole Lines
473.25
Total Electric Operating Revenues
$185,965.97
OPERATING EXPENSES-ELECTRIC Production
Operation :
Superintendence and Labor
$21,892.19
Boiler Fuel
40,301.89
Water for Steam
188.53
Lubricants
260.33
Station Supplies and Expenses
993.05
$ 63,635.99
184
Maintenance :
Maintenance of Station Structures $ 326.74
Maintenance of Boiler Plant Equipment 7,845.00
Maintenance of Turbo Generator Units 503.53
Maintenance of Electric Generating Equip. . 61.58
Maintenance of Accessory Electric Equip. ..
94.64
Maintenance of Misc. Power Plant Equip. . $ 8,831.49
Electric Energy Purchased 672.62
Total Production Expenses
$ 73,140.10
Transmission, Distribution and Storage
Operation :
Operation of Transmission and Distribution
Lines
$ 11,622.80
Transmission and Distribution Supplies and Expenses 625.39
Inspecting and Testing Meters
1,212.51
Removing and Resetting Meters 860.19
Removing and Resetting Transformers
511.24
$ 14,832.13
Maintenance:
Maintenance of Transmission and Distribu-
tion Lines
$ 7,935.82
Maintenance of Consumers Meters 152.17
Maintenance of Transformers 198.18 $ 8,286.17
Total Transmission, Distribution & Storage
Expense
$ 23,118.30
Utilization
Operation :
Municipal Street Lamps-Labor $ 1,083.32
Municipal Street Lamps-Supplies & Exp. . 1,751.29 $ 2,834.61
Maintenance :
Maintenance of Municipal Street Lamps .. $ 906.24
Maintenance of Commercial Lighting Equip.
Maintenance of Consumers' Installations ..
1,413.40 $ 2,319.64
Total Utilization Expenses
$ 5,154.25
Commercial
Commercial Salaries
$
8,899.27
Commercial Supplies and Expenses 1,199.42
Total Commercial Expenses $ 10,098.69
185
New Business
New Business Salaries
$ 1,859.29
New Business Supplies and Expenses
Advertising
1,117.50
Wiring and Appliances
Total New Business Expenses
$ 2,976.79
General and Miscellaneous
Salary of Manager
$ 3,869.86
Salaries of General Office Clerks
2,809.83
General Office Supplies and Expenses
1,926.57
Law Expense-General
Insurance
4,184.75
Accidents and Damages
11.60
Store Expenses
274.58
Transportation Expenses
2,775.80
Inventory Adjustments
2,565.98
Depreciation
21,102.86
Miscellaneous General Expense
2,694.50
Total General and Miscellaneous Expenses . $ 42,216.33
Grand Total Operating Expenses
$156,704.46
Income Statement for the Year
Operating Income:
Operating Revenues
$185,965.97
Operating Expenses
156,704.46
Net Operating Revenue
$ 29,261.51
Uncollectible Operating Revenue
$ 41.05
Taxes Assignable to Electric Operations
537.23
578.28
Net Operating Income
$ 28,683.23
Non-Operating Income:
Merchandise and Jobbing Revenue
$ 497.89
Interest Income
141.05
Total Non-Operating Income
$ 638.94
Gross Income
$ 29,322.17
Deductions from Gross Income:
Interest on Bonds and Notes
$
5,482.46
Total Deductions from Gross Income $ 5,482.46
Income Balance trans. to Profit and Loss ...
$ 23,839.71
186
Profit and Loss Statement
Credit Balance at Beginning of Fiscal Period ..
Credit Balance Transferred from Income Acct. Other Deductions from Surplus (Bonds and Notes Paid)
$ 38,026.33 23,839.71
$ 13,800.00
Balance carried forward to Balance Sheet
48,066.04
Total
$ 61,866.04 $ 61,866.04
COMPARATIVE GENERAL BALANCE SHEET ASSETS
Investments
Balance at
Balance at
Net Change
beginning of year
close of year
$357,818.09 Plant Investment
$375,092.04
$ 17,273.95
5,380.75 . General Equipment
6,762.75
1,382.00
$363,198.84 Total Investments
$381,854.79
$ 18,655.95
Current Assets
$ 2,236.21
Cash
$ 150.00
$ 2,086.21
1,507.10 Special Deposits
1,241.75
265.35
24,548.19 Accounts Receivable
35.066.44
10,518.25
41,440.54 Materials and Supplies
42,807.89
1,367.35
$ 69,732.04 Total Current Assets
$ 79,266.08
$ 9,534.04
Prepaid Accounts
$
1,688.22 Prepaid Insurance
$ 850.66
$ 837.56
$
1,688.22
Total Prepaid Accounts
$ 850.66
$ 837.56
$434,619.10
Grand Total
$461,971.53
$ 27,352.43
COMPARATIVE GENERAL BALANCE SHEET
LIABILITIES
Balance at
close of
Net Change
Balance at beginning of year
year
Appropriations
$ 30,678.26 Appropriations for Construction $ 30,678.26
187
Bonds and Notes Payable
$107,500.00 Bonds
$ 98,000.00
9,500.00
17,800.00 Notes Payable
13,500.00
4,300.00
$125,300.00
Total Bonds and Notes Payable
$111,500.00
$ 13,800.00
Current Liabilities
$ 15,811.52
Accounts Payable
$ 27,391.40
$ 11,579.88
1,507.10 Consumers' Deposits
1,241.75
265.35
$ 17,318.62
Total Current Liabilities
$ 28,633.15
$ 11,314.53
Accrued Liabilities
$
1,341.94
Interest Accrued
$ 1,191.90
$ 151.04
1,353.95 Insurance-Other Accrued Liabilities- Loan from Treasurer
7,503.18
6,149.23
$ 2,695.89
Total Accrued Liabilities
$ 8,694.08
$ 5,998.19
Appropriated Surplus
$220,600.00
Loans Repayment
$234,400.00
$ 13,800.00
$220,600.00
Total Appropriated Surplus
$234,400.00
$ 13,800.00
Profit and Loss
$ 38,026.33
Profit and Loss-Balance
$ 48,066.04
$ 10,039.71
$434,619.10
Grand Total
$461,971.53
$ 27,352.43
PLANT INVESTMENT ACCOUNTS-ELECTRIC
Balance at beginning of year
Additions Depreciation, Balance during at close year Other Credits during year of year
Plant Investment
Land
$ 2,575.80
$
$
$ 2,575.80
Structures
20,898.06
2.03
20,900.09
Boiler Plant Equipment
36,915.30
4,457.78
2,953.23
38,419.85
Prime Movers & Auxiliaries 17,875.51
1,430.04
16,445.47
Turbo Generator Units
27,875.51
2,230.04
25,645.47
Electric Plant-Steam
19,648.67
1,424.19
1,571.89
19,500.97
Poles, Fixtures & Over-
head Conductors
147,585.12
23,165.35
8,855.10
161,895.37
Consumers' Meters
34,192.85
3,371.48
1,367.72
36,196.61
Consumers' Meter Installa- tion
4,333.12
662.00
173.32
4,821.80
Line Transformers
32,102.22
3,699.47
1,605.11
34,196.58
Transformer Installation
3,341.78
180.00
167.09
3,354.69
188
Street Lighting Equipment 10,474.15
1,120.52
749.32
10,845.35
Consumers' Premises Equip.
293.99
293.99
Total Plant Investment $357,818.09
$ 38,376.81
$ 21,102.86
$375,092.04
General Equipment
Office Equipment $ 2,905.75
$ 381.50
$ 474.50
$ 2,812.75
Transportation Equipment
2,475.00
2,500.00
1,025.00
3,950.00
Total General Equipment $ 5,380.75
$ 2,881.50
$ 1,499.50
$ 6,762.75
Total Cost of All Property
$363,198.84
$ 41,258.31
$ 22,602.36
$381,854.79
TOTAL COST OF PLANT
2,575.80
Cost of Structures
27,529.74
Generating Plant-Steam :
Cost of Boiler Plant Equipment $ 67,885.31
Cost of Prime Movers and Auxiliaries
29,013.38
Cost of Turbo-Generator Units
46,870.83
Cost of Electric Plant-Steam
32,526.62
Transmission, Distribution and Storage:
Cost of Poles, Fixtures and Overhead Con-
ductors
$230,153.65
Cost of Consumers' Meters
50,076.27
Cost of Consumers' Meter Installation
6,559.56
Cost of Line Transformers
47,961.32
Cost of Transformers Installation
4,999.40
$339,750.20
Utilization Equipment :
Cost of Street Lighting Equipment $ 22,078.22
Cost of Consumers Premises Equipment
293.99
$ 22,372.21
Total Cost of Electric Plant as shown by the books
$568,524.09
CASH BALANCES AT CLOSE OF YEAR
Petty Cash Loan from Treasurer $ 150.00
Depreciation Fund Account
DEBITS
Balance of account at beginning of year:
Amount transferred from income 21,102.86
Total
$ 21,102.86
Cost of Land
$
$ 30,105.54
$176,296.14
189
CREDITS
Amount expended for construction purposes
$ 21,102.86
Balance on hand at close of year
Material and Supplies
Coal
$ 2,284.75
Oil
111.70
Electrical Appliances
12,385.11
Miscellaneous Materials and Supplies
28,026.33
Total
$ 42,807.89
Construction Fund DEBIT
Balance at beginning of year
$ 2,236.21
Transferred from Depreciation Fund
21,102.86
Construction sold during year
2,674.96
Adjustments
178.79
Transferred from Operating Fund
11,246.56
Total Debits
$ 37,439.38
CREDIT
Amount Expended for Additions and Extensions $ 37,439.38
Balance
Total Credits
$ 37,439.38
Operation Fund DEBIT
Balance at beginning of year
$
Received from sale of electricity
170,561.38
Received from Appropriation for Street Lights 11,000.00
Received from Miscellaneous Items
31,450.40
Total Debits
$213,011.78
CREDIT
Expenditures for Operating Accounts
$168,582.04
Bonds Paid
9,500.00
Notes Paid
4,300.00
Interest Paid
5,633.50
Amount transferred to Depreciation Fund 21,102.86
Amount transferred to Construction Fund
11,246.56
Total Credits
$220,364.96
Balance due Treasurer
7,353.18
$213,011.78
190
The year's business has increased considerably over 1924 as shown by the following data from the records:
1924
1925
Increase
Per Cent
K. W. H. delivered to
switchboard
3,572,588
4,050,687
478,099
13.4
K. W. H. Sold:
For lighting
980,206
1,148.301
168,095
17.1
For power
833,321
960,297
126,976
15.2
For cooking & heating
573,987
664,858
90,871
15.8
For street lighting
285,826
316,329
30,503
10.7
Totals
2,673,340
3,089,785
416,445
15.5
K. W. H. sold in each Town:
Reading
2,023,631
2,351,749
328,118
16.2
Lynnfield Centre
88,687
107,671
18,984
21.4
North Reading
237,688
264,555
26,867
11.3
Wilmington
323,334
365,810
42,476
13.1
2,673,340
3,089,785
416,445
15.5
Income from Sales of Current:
Lighting
$ 98,773.58
$105,441.34
$ 6,667.76
6.75
Power
37,738.22
36,609.71
1,128.51 Decr.
3.
Cooking & Heating
16,491.78
19,367.32
2,875.54
17.4
Street Lighting
24,885.58
24,074.35
811.23 Decr.
3.2
Totals
$177,889.16
$185,492.72
$ 7,603.56
4.27
Income from each Town:
Reading
$119,864.89
$123,663.52
$ 3,798.63
3.2
Lynnfield Ctre.
8,759.78
9,725.79
966.01
11.
North Reading
18,353.15
19,431.12
1,077.97
5.9
Wilmington
30,911.34
32,672.29
1,760.95
5.7
Totals
$177,889.16
$185,492.72 $ 7,603.56
4.27
The saving to customers the past year through the reduction in the rates amounted to over $17,000.00.
The operating expenses increased about 16.9%, practically all of the increase being in the manufacturing account due to extraordinary re- pairs in the boiler plant and increase in output.
The manufacturing cost per kilowatt hour was 1.803 cents as com- pared with 1.695 cents in' 1924, and the average total cost per kilowatt hour sold and delivered to street lights was 5.73 cents as compared with 5.15 cents last year.
is
191
There has been a net increase in customers since December 31, 1924 of 414, as follows: Reading 180, Lynnfield Centre 31, North Reading 113, and Wilmington 90.
The total number of new services connected during the year was 523.
The number of customers using the different classes of service in the several towns is as follows:
Lighting
Power
Cooking & Heating
Total
Reading
2,298
68
263
2,629
Lynnfield Centre
280
17
27
324
North Reading
471
13
61
545
Wilmington
862
26
86
974
Totals
3,911
124
437
4,472
Additional street lights have been installed during the year as fol- lows: Reading 18, North Reading 7, and Wilmington 10.
The street lights in Reading have burned all night and every night, a total of 3,939 hours.
The Wilmington street lights burn until one o'clock A. M. and from five o'clock A. M. until daylight from October 15th to March 15th, moon- light schedule, and have burned a total of 2,081 hours.
The North Reading and Lynnfield Centre street lights burn until midnight, moonlight schedule, and have burned 1,666 hours.
The number of each size of street lamps renewed during the year is shown below:
1368-40 c. p. 961-60 c. p. 50-100 c. p. 127-250 c. p. 39-600 c. p.
Additions to the plant during the year have been paid for from the income.
$13,800 in bonds and notes and $5,633.50 in interest has been paid from the income. No bonds or notes have been issued during the year. The outstanding indebtedness December 31st was $111,500.
The Profit and Loss surplus is $48,066.04, an increase of $10,039.71 over last year.
Accounts Receivable December 31st amounted to $35,066.44 and Ac- counts Payable $27,391.40. Uncollectible accounts charged off amounted to $41.05.
Inventory of supplies on hand was $42,807.89, an increase of $1,367.35 over last year.
192
LAMP AND APPLIANCE DEPARTMENT
The gross sales in this department amounted to $31,962.55 and the net profit was $497.89. The following is a list of appliances sold:
Air Compressors
1 Motors
37
Battery Chargers
6
Percolators
12
Curling Irons
36
Portable Lamps
54
Christmas Tree Sets
30 Radiators
41
Drills
4
Ranges
29
Fans
20
Refrigerators
8
Fireless Cookers
7 Sewing Machine Motors
4
Flat Irons
102
Soldering Irons
7
Forge Blowers
1
Screw Drivers
1
Grinders & Buffers
3
Toasters
125
Hair Dryers
1
Vibrators
3
Heating Pads
13
Violet Rays
2
Kitchen Luminaires
232
Vacuum Cleaners
41
Mangles
3 Waffle Irons
34
Grills & Hot Plates
39
Washing Machines
17
Water Heaters 7
Water Pumps 33
The above appliances with the exception of motors represent an in- crease in connected load of approximately 425 K. W. which should in- crease our yearly income over $5,000.
During the latter part of the year we conducted a campaign for better lighting in the kitchen by the use of Kitchen Luminaires. 232 were sold at a net profit of $151.17. The estimated annual revenue from these is $771.00.
The benefits to be derived from the use of electrical appliances in the home are available to all of our customers, and the extent to which each customer benefits depends upon the appliances which are used. One of the more recent adaptations of electric service is for refrigera- tion. Many of our customers are now using with satisfaction this class of service and with the improved types of refrigerating outfits now available and the better preservation of food and cleanliness attendant upon their use, more home owners should avail themselves of this service.
New Type Mazda Lamps
The greatest development in lamp making in the last ten years is the new inside frosted lamp. It is a pearl gray bulb which harmonizes with any fixture or background. It gives more light, is easy to clean and is more rugged in construction. These new lamps are now available in the 25, 40, 50, 60, and 100 watt sizes.
Distribution Lines
The distribution system in the towns supplied with our service now consists of 6102 poles and approximately 737 miles of wire, with 427 trans- formers connected. 3979 of the poles are jointly owned by the Town and
193
The Telephone and Street Railway Companies and 2123 are owned ex- . clusively by the Town. We have renewed 190 poles during the past year and expect to renew about the same number next year.
Some of the feeder circuits are becoming loaded to capacity and it will be necessary to increase the capacity by the use of larger wire or increased primary voltage or both. This is particularly true of the North Reading and Wilmington feeders, and plans are being made to increase their capacity.
Power Station
The generating equipment at the power station was called upon to carry a load of 1280 kilowatts on December first, which is the largest peak load in the history of the plant. All of the boilers and generators were in use during the heavy loads this winter, and fortunately carried the load without interruption. The emergency connection with the Edi- son Lines at the Stoneham line was completed on December 21 and gives us about 300 kilowatts of additional capacity, which will enable us to make repairs to our generating equipment between midnight and six o'clock in the morning without shutting off the service and also pro- vides reserve capacity in case of trouble with our generating equipment. The cost of this connection was about $5,500.
A new boiler was installed in October in place of No. 3 boiler which was removed in 1923. The cost of the boiler installed, including the piping was $4,796.08. We have also re-set No. 2 boiler this year on ac- count of the bad condition of the old setting. New tubes were also installed. New stokers have been installed under three of the boilers and the plant is now in fairly good condition.
Generated or Purchased Power
This subject is now more or less a matter of history, but I feel that in justice to the Board as well as the Manager, some of the more important facts bearing on the subject should be stated in my report.
As you know, the investigation of this subject was started in March 1924, and I have spent a large amount of time working with the sev- eral consulting engineers in the preparation of data for their reports. I have also made many independent investigations at your request. į.
We have received several propositions covering the purchase of power, and at least three covering the installation of generating equip- ment. Until we received the proposition of the Eastern Massachusetts Electric Company, on October 14, 1925, all of the reports made by the consulting engineers showed that the Town would save money by pur- chasing power in bulk from the Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston. The latest proposition from the Eastern Massachusetts Elec- tric Company indicated that the Town would save about $50,000.00 in ten years over any other proposition which had been received, based on the estimates given in the report of one of the consulting engineers.
194
After the close of the year I computed the cost of current delivered to the switchboard at the plant, if purchased from either the Eastern Massachusetts Electric Company or The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of Boston, and have had my figures checked by the respective companies. The figures are given below:
Eastern Massachusetts Electric Company
Cost of current, including cable charge
$55,717.06
Cost of labor, fuel and repairs at station 12,600.00
Total
$68,317.06
The Edison Electric Illuminating Company of 'Boston
Cost of current $42,218.42
Cost of labor, fuel and repairs at station 12,600.00
Annual fixed charges on $100,000 at 13 1-2% 13,500.00
Total
$68,318.42
The above figures show that the cost of purchased power would have been practically the same if purchased from either of the Companies.
The Municipal Light Board and Manager have consistently recom- mended that the Town purchase electricity in bulk from the Edison Company, believing that the customers of the plant are entitled to the best service possible, and that the Town should own and control all of the lines and equipment used in the conduct of its business. This recom- mendation has been backed up by the Finance Committee on four separ- ate occasions.
In the final analysis the primary obligation of the Board and Man- ager is to furnish to the consumers satisfactory service at reasonable rates, and all factors which contribute to the fulfillment of this obliga- tion should be given due consideration.
The service furnished by the Edison Company to the Municipal Light Plants at Wellesley, Norwood and Wakefield and to the private plants at Weymouth, Quincy, Cambridge and Charlestown, over a per- iod of years has been satisfactory. There have been no interruptions to the Wakefield service since the underground cables were installed. This covers a period of more than two years.
The service furnished by the Eastern Massachusetts Electric Com- pany to the Municipal Light Plant at Danvers since 1919 has not been satisfactory and it was found necessary to obtain auxiliary service from another source in order to maintain continuous service to its customers. All of the transmission line and substation at Danvers is owned by the Eastern Massachusetts Electric Company.
195
The following is a summary of the service interruptions at the Dan- vers Plant during 1925:
Total number of interruptions 47
No. due to trouble on main transmission line 20
No. due to trouble on branch transmission line 4
No. due to line troubles-unassigned 6 No. due to substation troubles 12
No. due to lighting
5
Total time service was off 119 hours, 28 minutes.
This is not the kind of service that the customers of the Reading Plant have been receiving, the total interruptions of service at the buss bars of the Power Station since 1914 being eleven, with a total of 19 hours and 30 minutes. The service has been shut off 18 hours and 20 minutes between midnight and morning to make repairs or changes in the power station. the total shut downs being 4 with an average of 4 hours and 34 minutes each. The remaining 7 outages which consisted of operating troubles, total 1 hour and 9 minutes with an average out- age of 10 minutes. There were no outages at the Power Station in 1917, 1918, 1921, 1922 and 1924.
If our supply of service is taken from the Eastern Massachusetts Electric Company's lines I should not expect that we would have as many interruptions as have occurred at the Danvers plant, as their service is supplied entirely from a single overhead line, while at least 5 miles of the line to Reading would be duplicate cables underground.
To summarize, the Edison Company has, over a period of years, fur- nished to other municipal plants, service of a character which compares favorably with the service which has been furnished by the Reading Plant, while the Eastern Massachusetts Electric Company has not done so.
The question of rates for service has been gone into in much detail and has been the subject of considerable discussion. Some citizens feel that a fixed rate for a period of five years is an advantage to the Town. This, of course, is true so far as an increase in the rate is concerned, but if the Company from whom we purchase is enabled, either through more favorable contracts with the generating or transmission companies, or by economies in its own system, to lower its costs, and thereby supply power at lower rates than offered to Reading, we would not receive the benefit of such lower rates which might be offered to other customers. This condition would not obtain under the Edison rates as all customers would automatically receive the benefit of any reduction in rates, and would also be subject to any increase.
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