Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 86, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 February 1915 — NEW WATER METER RATES [ARTICLE]

NEW WATER METER RATES

Schedule Proposed Here Is Said to Be Lowest in Indiana. In another column of today’s Democrat we publish the proposed water* meter rates to be charged Rensselaer consumers under the new schedule to be adopted by the city and which the Public Service Commission will be asked to sanction. These rates are said to be the lowest in the state, and are made possible by municipal ownership of both the water and light systems and the lower cost of operation of same jointly. Under., the proposed schedule the minimum is. to. be $6 per year. That is, if a family doesn’t use enough water to reach this figure at meter measurement, the rate will be $6 anyway. Above this one pays for what they actually use, same as we are now doing on our electric lights. This is the only equitable way to handle the matter, and if the consumer knows that he will have the water to pay for if he wastes it, he will no doubt be a little less profigate in its use. That the use of city water has - been grossly abused by many people under the old flat rate, everyone knows to be a fact, and it is this very thing that has made it necessary to put in the meter system. The city will pay for the meters, we understand, but the property owners must pay the cost of installing, same as was done in the installing of light meters. This expense will probably be but a few dollars in each case. The matter of hearing the petition for adoption of the proposed rates is set for next Wednesday 1 , Feb.' 10, before the Public Service Commission in Indianapolis.