[PRCo] Grass roots move to force Duquesne Light to go broke?

[Fred Schneider]

Can you visualize how much Duquesne Light's rates would go up for the remaining customers if half of the system were to be wiped out by this group and the utility was forced to charge off the depreciation and debt service over a smaller rate base?   

http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YnEbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=kksEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3623%2C2964659

 

Pittsburgh Press, wed., Jan. 30, 1935

 

1200 DEMAND LIGHT RATE CUT

 

New Brighton Move Paves Way for Other Groups to Seek Slashes

 

Special to The Pittsburgh Press:

   NEW BEIGHTON, Pa., Jan. 30—An immediate reduction of 30 percent in the rates of Duquesne Light Company was demanded last night by the New Brighton Tax League, an organization of over 1,200 members.

   The action paved the way for a similar demand by branches of the Tax Justice League in Beaver, Butler and Allegheny Counties, known as the Tri-County League, Harry W. Shaffer, president of the Tri-County League said.  There are 35,000 members in the tri-county group.

   Beaver Falls, across the river from here, will also make a demand for a 30 percent reduction in Duquesne’s rates, Mr. Shaffer said, and later action will be taken by the county organization.

   Petitions will be circulated in New Brighton, Fallston, Brighton Heights and Pulaski Township, starting Friday, substantiating the demand of the leagu, Mr. Shaffer said.  Copies of the resolution calling for a 30 per cent slash in rates will be sent to the Duquesne Light and the State Public Service Commission.

   “We have also discussed the possibility of building a municipal plant, but we are tied down by franchises here,” Mr. Shaffer stated.

   The tri-County Tax Justice League, he pointed out, is engaged in congealing opposition to “excessive” rates of utilities.

   This activity followed similar maneuvers in municipalities in the Pittsburgh district.   Turtle Creek Borough already has sought information from the Public Works Administration relative to borrowing sufficient funds to build its own plant.

   Baldwin Township, adjacent to the City of Pittsburgh, is conducting a survey with the intention of not only building a plant to serve its residents but is considering the possibility of constructing a plant which might serve the 150,000 residents of South Hills.