The recent growth of the electrical power and transmission companies is shown by the fact that they have developed, from water power sources, upwards of 125,000 horse-power, with the full capacity of their plants not yet reached. These companies (seven in number) have issued capital stock to the amount of $17,180,700 and bonds to the amount of $7,860,000. Two other plants in process of installation are designed to supply an additional 100,000 horse-power. PRICE OF GAS. It has been generally assumed that the Commission, on its own initiative, has the power to determine and fix the price of gas and electricity. Such, however, is not the case. Section 15 provides that the Commission shall act in the matter of fixing the price of gas and electricity "upon the complaint in writing of the mayor of a city, the trustees of a village or the town board of a town in which a person or corporation is authorized to manufacture, sell or supply gas or electricity for heat, light or power, or upon the complaint in writing of not less than one hundred customers or purchasers of gas or electricity." The Commission can only reach a conclusion after a hearing and investigation, at which the companies complained of have an opportunity to be heard and to be represented by counsel. The Commission began an investigation November 20, 1905, in the city of New York. This investigation was the result of complaints submitted to the Commission from one hundred or more consumers of gas of companies in the Boroughs of Manhattan, the Bronx and Brooklyn. These consumers were represented by counsel and the complaints, two in each instance, related to the price charged for gas. The Commission, on its own initiative, at the same time took up for investigation the question of the quality, purity and pressure of the gas furnished and the methods employed in bookkeeping. The companies complained of are: Consolidated Gas Company of New York, Brooklyn Union Gas Company of Brooklyn, New Amsterdam Gas Company, The New York Mutual Gas Light Company, Central Union Gas Company, Northern Union Gas Company. Since November 20th the Commission has been engaged in conducting hearings in New York city. Such investigation is still pending (January 1, 1906). In addition to the many public sessions and the taking of testimony, the Commission has made personal inspection of plants of companies under investigation, as well as of the plant of the Astoria Light, Heat and Power company in process of construction at Astoria. The combined authorized capital stock of the seven companies against which complaints have been made to the Commission aggregates the sum of $161,500,000, of which $133,946,400 is issued. Bonds have been issued to the amount of $61,914,600. The amount of gas supplied annually by these companies to consumers is 26,626,628,183 cubic feet, and to public lighting 763,958,259 cubic feet. Complaint has been filed by the mayor of Syracuse against the Syracuse Lighting Company as to the illuminating power, pressure, purity and price of gas and the power and intensity of electric light furnished by that company. A similar complaint has been filed by the mayor of Auburn relating to the illuminating power, purity, pressure and price of gas supplied by the Auburn Gas Company. The following table shows the price charged for coal and water gas throughout the State, as of June 30, 1905: |