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REPORT

OF THE

COMMISSION OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY

STATE OF NEW YORK:

COMMISSION OF GAS AND ELECTRICITY,

ALBANY, January 28, 1907.

To the Honorable, the Legislature of the State of New York: Pursuant to the requirements of chapter 737 of the Laws of 1905, the Commission of Gas and Electricty submits its second annual report.

The corporations, municipalities and individuals furnishing gas or electricty for light, heat or power in the State and under the supervision of the Commission number 435; the nominal capital engaged in the business is about $546,000,000; the gross income from operation approximately $75,000,000 per annum.

Coal, water, or mixed coal and water, gas is furnished by 51 of these plants; 166 furnish electricity; 51 supply both gas and electricity (of these 2 supply natural gas and 1 oil gas); 12 acetylene gas; 13 gasoline gas; and 42 natural gas. Of the municipalities, 3 are engaged in furnishing gas, acetylene or gasoline and 39 electricity. Of the individual plants, 39 supply electricity and 19 either water acetylene, gasoline or natural gas. Included among the electric companies are 15 transmitting high tension current.

APPLICATIONS.

During the year ending December 31, 1906, the Commission had before it for consideration seventy-four applications, upon all but three of which public hearings have been had.

The applications of seventeen companies for increase of stock and bonds were acted upon during the year. Sworn statements and testimony concerning the estimated cost of construction and

equipment and examination in detail as to the values of the plants and franchises and of the indebtedness of the companies formed the basis of the determination. Consent was granted to the issue of stock to the amount of $5,348,000 out of a total of $7,333,000 applied for, a reduction of $1,985,000, or about 27 per cent. The issue of $910,000 bonds was approved out of a total of $1,350,000 applied for, a reduction of 31 per cent. The combined stock and bond issues proposed amounted to $8,683,000. The amount granted was $6,258,000, the reduction $2,425,000, or about 24 per cent. The companies making these applications and the action. of the Commission are given in the following table:

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The following table shows the new corporations which made application for certificates of authority to transact business and the amount of stock or bonds applied for and allowed. A reduction of about 28 per cent. of the capitalization applied for was ordered after inquiry in each instance as to the purposes to which the proposed issues of stock and bonds were to be devoted. Consent was denied to issues of stock and bonds for remote or possible

future development, further applications being allowable as such needs arose.

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Municipalities desirous of engaging in the manufacture or supply of gas or electricity for other than municipal purposes are required by section 11 of the law to first obtain the consent of the Commission. The following is a list of such applications received and acted upon, with the amount of the proposed expenditures approved:

Village of Theresa .

Village of Union..

Village of Lake Placid.

$23,000

15,000

45,000

Certain applications involving transfer of franchises, works, system or property, or the acquirement of stock and bonds, filed with the Commission, are grouped separately in the following table, in which is also shown the action of the Commission:

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Saranac Lake Light, Heat & Power Co.. Paul Smith's Electric Light &

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Niagara Falls Gas & Electric Light Co... Niagara Falls Electrical Trans

mission Company..

Approved.

Albion Power Co..

Niagara Falls Electrical Trans

mission Company...

Approved.

Oyster Bay Electric Light & Power Co.. Nassau Light & Power Company.

Denied

COMPLAINTS AS TO PRICE.

No provision of the law has aroused such widespread public interest as that section conferring the power upon the Commission to fix the price of gas or electricity after a hearing. Complaints, as provided by section 15 of the law, may be made in writing by the mayor of a city, the trustees of a village, or the town board of a town, or by not less than one hundred customers of the com pany complained of, and after a hearing and investigation (section 17) the Commision may fix the maximum price which shall be charged, and may, upon its own initiative, order such improvements in the manufacture or supply of gas or in the manufacture, supply or tranmission of electricity or in the methods employed as will in its judgment improve the service.

The following complaints during the year received the atten tion of the Commission:

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The complaints against the following companies: Consolidated Gas Company, New Amsterdam Gas Company, Brooklyn Union Gas Company, Standard Gas Light Company, Central Union Gas Company, Northern Union Gas Company, New York Mutual Gas Light Company - all operating in New York city, were filed soon after the organization of the Commission. Proceedings upon all of said complaints were consolidated and continuous hearings were held until February, 1906, at which time orders were issued fixing the price of gas in the boroughs of Manhattan and the

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