A Study of Electric Rates and the Design of a Rate for Universities and Colleges

In this age of electricity, with electric power being a utility of universal use throughout the land, both in cities and rural communities, it follows naturally that the subject of electric power and lighting rates is one of interest to the general public. Since public utility rates have been so vividly brought to the attention of the public as political issues and newspaper propaganda, without explanation, a study of their fundamentals and their design is an interesting and valuable subject.

In this paper an attempt will be made to discover and record some of the principles used by rate engineers, giving special consideration to the design of an equitable rate structure for colleges and universities. In as much as the subject at hand is one of general public interest, special effort will be made herein to treat it in such a manner that this paper will be understandable to the layman, as well as to the man with technical training and education.