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S5f "'Y *,:?V v/^ * *i*l .-sK- £*£•. •-•! J r SfcvTHS - *-">#• ^r,jS «. ?->l i:'-:>'-;"•%'>_" '%':jJr "-11^ "„'" Cr."1--'""• tfr»"»"Iii' ^-i,"'•:*' '"&% f 'B. i *>-f. - 54' '&' -5* •--".-f-'J' ""J r'.'i'-.':'-: t ' , " ji - •.«- ** *. - *""U, jr-^.vi.i:^If^-, ;Vk **£;» -•*«& -w"" * *.--<~'3 ^ '"'••*•? , > :-\>'i 7 >f« :»*,/' " J - * * -' 'V ("•;"«;?• J s«iiiliiiii|Ps >-."?*r * *;-. : -* ."= , ; ' <_. • ...' - - f J /.* •• : ..jf,.v.-;^ / -vA* v • •* ' "•** •'*" v" fttl'^ s ,.0** Ii --« - -- -> «^» ? % t^ t •• -* • -"J<*jJI Js~, '/ ._*.*«- jj ; •>i, -t'><X&'. V * ' * ' m - - T ^ - , £ & • ' - ' - n ' J j . ^ • - t ' - ^ J f T - . ' V - ; MV "V-r8'. *? i «• , x ^^ >*V ^.v:r " * ' * s : • * , r ' - ' - J ' - r - " ' . ' • . , 1 h ' » • < • • ' * - ^ . * . . ' • ' • ? . . . . * ;flkshryi^i" v . - • . - , . ^ "v . "... . material of all kinds began to advance, and this advance has been continuous, During this period of nearly six years, this Company has operated its properties without increasing its rates, except for wholesale power, wholesale gas and heating service It was possible to continue to oper- }/% •' - n#: and utilization of the most economical units for the production of both electricity and gas. In order that the Company might continue to render adequate service to its customers, it hecame apparent that the policy of selling its product at pre-war prices could not longer be pursued, and that the selling price of its product must be increased. Accordingly, upon our application, filed May 6, 1920, the Public Utilities Commission of Illinois, by order entered July 31,1920 (Cases 10569, 10570 and 10^29Jf has granted an increa&^ in our electric, gas and water rates, effective August 1, 1920. v . • c - V; ;• The Commission, cation, said in its order: "Prmcipal among the contentions advanced by ^e petitioner in support of its application for higher rates is the marked increase in operating expenses brought about by the great advance in the costs of labor and materials. In 1919 the Company used approximately 440,000 tons of boiler coal, 32,000 tons of gas coal, 56,000 tons of water gas generator fuel, and 10,000,000 gallons of enriching cut A year ago bituminous Coal for boiler fuel cost $3.50 a ton at the plaots of the company as compared with a present cost of $4.48 a ton and an estimated cost after August 1, 1920 of about $4.86 a ton. The company claims it is enabled to secure coal at somewhat less than the market price because of its interest in the mines of the Big Muddy Fuel Company in Williamson County, Illinois, and the Indiana Hocking Company in Sullivan, Indiana. Until April, 1920, the Company purchased an excellent quality of Kapawha coke for use as generator fuel at a price of $4.75 per ton at the ovens. This grade of coke can no longer be secured, , and the company is now purchasing Connellsville Coke at $15.50 per ton-at the ovens, equivalent to about $17.90 at the various p l a n t s . • ' ' v | | 'JU Gas oil of superior quality which sold for 2 or 3 cents a gallon in the period from 1911 to 1915 cannot now be secured, and Jjiie company is forced to use an inferior grade known as fuel oil, I§nd even this can be obtained only with difficulty at prices vary- ^he open market.'* The policy of this Company from its beginning and up until the Fall of 1914 had been |o reduce the rates for its service. As soon as it is possible to materially reduce its cost of fervice, this Company will request the authorities having charge of rates, to authorize a lower tat» than the cute now in effect. Because of the scarcity and extremely high price ofijoiler fuel and gjis ihakirig suppffes, we esinastly uige all of our customers to exercise the utmost economy in the use of our service. If they adopt this course, it will not only help us, hut it will go a long ways toward helping them ifr taking care of the increase in the rates. ~ *&"S£>. • >'• « -J" .' J?- ' - ' zif >k' '¥ Xsimx S? • -f- • f A' A." '• ^ r "* U. ll( * \ 4^. ^ ^ '